October 7 attack survivors accuse Palestinian-American businessman of supporting Hamas

At least 200 Americans, including survivors of the October 7 attacks in Israel, have filed a lawsuit against a Palestinian-American billionaire, accusing him of providing financial assistance to Hamas that allegedly enabled the group to carry out deadly attacks.

Bashar Masri, a US citizen based in Palestine and holding dual nationality, has been running Massar International since its establishment in 1994.

The lawsuit, filed in a US District Court in Washington, DC, is said to be the first case brought by American citizens alleging direct ties to the attacks that sparked wider conflict in the Middle East and escalated regional warfare.

The petition stated that Masri owned and constructed the property in Palestine with “concealed tunnels under them” that were made accessible for Hamas, supporting fighters in operation before and after October 7.” 

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“Defendants facilitated the construction and concealment of those tunnels and even built above-ground solar panel installations that they then used to supply Hamas with electricity to the tunnels,” Al Jazeera quoted the petition. 

However, Masri’s office declared the lawsuit “baseless” stating, “Neither he nor those entities have ever engaged in unlawful activity or provided support for violence and militancy.”

According to Reuters, carrying out any project in Gaza prior to the war required approval from local authorities, including Hamas.The group built its extensive tunnel network across the territory, including under private homes and businesses.