Canadian Families of Oct. 7 Victims Sue Iran, Hamas, Others for $350 Million

In this undated photo released by Iris Weinstein Haggai, Judih Weinstein Haggai (L) and Gadi Hagi pose for a photo. The Canadian Press/AP-Iris Weinstein Haggai via AP

Two Canadian families who lost relatives in the 2023 Hamas attack in Israel are suing Iran, Syria, Hamas, and other organizations, for $350 million.

The lawsuit, filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, is being brought under the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act, which allows supporters of terrorism to be sued for damages in Canada, according to Gavin Tighe, one of the attorneys involved in the case.

“Two Canadian families [were] destroyed by what happened on Oct. 7,” he told The Epoch Times. “We had the murder of a 70-year-old grandmother and her husband doing nothing but walking near their home. And another young lady, 23 years old. Her crime was she went to a concert.”

One of the plaintiffs, Iris Weinstein Haggai, is the daughter of Judi Weinstein and her husband, Gad Haggai, who were out for a walk on Oct. 7, 2023, when they were shot by Hamas terrorists, the lawsuit says. Their bodies were taken into Gaza and have not yet been returned.

The other plaintiff is Ohad Lapidot, the father of Tiferet Lapidot. She was attending the Supernova Sukkot Gathering, an outdoor music festival, on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked. Ten days after the attack, Israeli authorities confirmed her body was found.

The families argue that Iran and Syria are liable for the deaths as state supporters of Hamas, saying they “supplied the Terrorist Entity Defendants with funding, training, propaganda, safe havens and other forms of support.”

A wide range of other organizations are also named in the lawsuit, such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Fatah, the political party of Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, among multiple other organizations. The lawsuit says the groups “planned, organized and carried out the 7/10 Terrorist Attacks, including the murders of Judi, Gad and Tiferet.”

The lawsuit also names Samidoun, which came under heavy criticism recently after its members held an Oct. 7 anniversary event in Vancouver by chanting “Long live October 7,” and “Death to Canada, Death to the United States, and death to Israel.” Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre has called for the organization to be designated as a terrorist organization. The group didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Tighe said that while the lawsuit sought financial compensation for the families, it was about more than money.

“Unfortunately, there is really only one thing a court can give in terms of compensation–money,“ he said. ”It’s hardly compensation for losing your grandparents or your daughter. But the claim itself does seek a sum of money... obviously a large sum of money, but not relative to the loss that’s been suffered.”

Tighe said that the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas was organized, and those who supported it should be brought to justice.

“This is a case about following the money. Oct. 7 didn’t just happen. It was very organized. Obviously, there are incredible amounts of assets and money that go into an operation such as that. And then there are organizations here in Canada that continue to glorify this terrible incident.”