Relatives of the victims of the October 7 attacks by Hamas in Israel have taken legal action against Iran, Syria and North Korea in the US, alleging that their alleged support for the Palestinian extremist group facilitated the bloodshed.

Iran, Syria and North Korea “provided material support and the resources” to enable Hamas to carry out the attack on communities in southern Israel, according to the complaint filed in federal court in Washington on Monday by Anti -Defamation League (ADL), a New York-based Jewish NGO, on behalf of 125 victims and their families.

The plaintiffs are demanding at least $4 billion in damages for the kidnapping and murder of their relatives.

Hamas fighters massacred more than 1,200 people when they attacked communities in southern Israel on October 7.

They also took about 250 people hostage, of whom more than 100 are still being held in Gaza, although it is unclear how many of them are still alive.

Israel responded by bombing Gaza and launched a ground attack on Palestinian territory to wipe out Hamas. Since then, at least 37,765 Palestinians are believed to have been killed and another 86,429 injured in Gaza.

Nahar Neta, whose mother was killed on October 7, said the reason he and his family decided to go to court is “to bring some comfort and justice to the families of the victims of October 7.”

If the plaintiffs are vindicated by the court, then they will likely be compensated by a US fund established by Congress for victims of terrorism.

This money comes from seized assets and fines imposed on companies found to be involved in illegal business with countries designated and sanctioned as sponsors of terrorism.