US Supreme Court Denies PLO Request to Pause $655 Million Terror Victims Judgment

• The US Supreme Court has denied a PLO request to freeze a $655.5 million judgment against Palestinian officials.
• The judgment was originally awarded by a jury in 2016 and trebled under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
• Enforcement of the judgment could destabilize government services and jeopardize regional security, according to the PLO.

The money judgment at issue became a legal nullity when [the families'] appeals were exhausted in 2018.

The US Supreme Court has denied a request from the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to freeze a $655.5 million judgment against Palestinian officials for their role in terror attacks that killed US nationals between 2001 and 2004. The judgment, which was originally awarded by a jury in 2016, was trebled under the Anti-Terrorism Act and has been reinstated on appeal. The PLO had argued that enforcement of the judgment would destabilize government services and jeopardize regional security, but Justice Sonia Sotomayor refused to intervene without comment.

The case has its roots in the Anti-Terrorism Act, which allows US families of terror attack victims to sue Palestinian officials for damages. The law was clarified by Congress through the Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act and the Promoting Security and Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act, setting conditions for when the PLO can be sued. In 2025, the Supreme Court upheld the law in a unanimous decision in *Fuld v. Palestine Liberation Organization*, finding that Palestinian officials can be brought into US courts to defend personal injury suits. The appeals court reinstated the original judgment last year, leading to the PLO's current appeal.

The enforced $655.5 million judgment could have far-reaching consequences for the Palestinian economy and government services. Officials warn that it would plunge the territory into a deep recession, exacerbate unemployment, and lead to widespread violence in the West Bank. The judgment also poses a significant threat to regional security, as neighboring countries such as Israel, Jordan, and Egypt could be impacted by the instability. Compliance officers and lawyers should be aware of these potential disruptions and consider their implications for businesses operating in the region.

Lawyers and compliance officers should watch for potential disruptions in the Palestinian economy and government services due to the enforced $655.5 million judgment, which could lead to widespread violence and instability in the region.

Source: Original reporting via CN