Palestinian Authorities Seek US Supreme Court Pause on $656 Million Judgment

The Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization filed an emergency petition with the United States Supreme Court asking the justices to stay enforcement of a $656 million judgment. The verdict stems from a long‑running lawsuit filed by American victims of attacks in Jerusalem in the early 2000s that killed 33 people and wounded hundreds. Families brought the case under the Anti‑Terrorism Act, which allows U.S. courts to hear claims arising from international terrorist attacks.

The judgment was reinstated by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in March after the Supreme Court in 2025 revived the lawsuits. Palestinian officials argue that immediate payment would destabilize essential government services in the West Bank, harm innocent civilians and jeopardize regional security, and therefore request a stay while the appeal proceeds.