On Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit dismissed claims that were brought forth by a couple who sustained injuries during a terrorist attack carried out by a Hamas member in 2015. The attack involved a car that was driven deliberately into a crowd at a Jerusalem bus stop, but resulted in no deaths.
The case was linked to allegations that Syria and Iran had a role in the attack. However, the three-judge panel found that the lower court lacked jurisdiction over these allegations. The judges referenced the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976, citing that while this federal law does allow for personal injury claims resulting from “extrajudicial killings” which are materially supported by state sponsors of terrorism, this exception does not apply in the couple’s case due to the lack of fatalities.
The couple in question, Rotem and Yoav Golan, effectively have their claims haltered by this decision as the D.C. Circuit held that federal courts do not have jurisdiction to hear the case, given the circumstances.
For further details, you can read the full National Law Journal report here.