What really makes a deep impression, when you are dealing with the amoral, is any perception of pain to their pocketbooks. A group of survivors, heirs, and family members of those killed or wounded by Hamas on October 7, 2023 have now sued a cryptocurrency billionaire, Changpeng Zhao, and his company, Binance, for helping Hamas to bypass US laws and international sanctions, thereby making the financing of the terror group possible. More on this lawsuit can be found here: “Victims of Oct. 7 attack file multi-billion-dollar lawsuit against crypto billionaire,” Jerusalem Post, November 26, 2024:
Victims of the October 7 Hamas attack filed a multi-billion-dollar lawsuit in a California court against the CEO of a major cryptocurrency exchange, alleging the platform facilitated Hamas terrorism through cryptocurrency financing, violating international sanctions and US laws.
Changpeng Zhao, the billionaire founder and CEO of Binance, is facing allegations of enabling Hamas terrorism through negligent and intentional support via cryptocurrency services. The lawsuit, filed in California’s Superior Court by Dr. Gideon Fisher & Co. in collaboration with US law firms, is brought by over 100 plaintiffs, including American and Israeli citizens impacted by the devastating Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.
According to the complaint, Zhao and Binance “intentionally and/or negligently provided extensive cryptocurrency services to Hamas, which caused, enabled, and facilitated the October 7 attack.”
The lawsuit claims that Zhao’s actions violated international sanctions and US laws prohibiting financial support for terrorism. The plaintiffs argue that Binance’s services allowed Hamas to circumvent traditional financial systems and access critical funding for its operations….
Legal adviser Ortal Reisman encouraged more victims to join the lawsuit. “I urge all individuals recognized as victims of terrorism to participate in the US lawsuit against Binance’s CEO and in future claims targeting Hamas and its financial backers,” she said.
There are already 100 plaintiffs, but that number could potentially grow to many thousands, given that Hamas killed 1,200 people on October 7 and wounded 630, and each of those victims had at least several family members who could join the lawsuit.
This lawsuit is going to scare the daylights out of those who have, deliberately or negligently, been involved in the financing of terror groups. This lawsuit comes less than six months after a new filing by lawyers for family members of those who were murdered on 9/11/2001, accusing Saudi Arabian officials of involvement in the attacks.. More on the lawsuit against the Saudis can be found here:
A new filing in a lawsuit brought by the families of 9/11 victims against the government of Saudi Arabia alleges that al-Qaeda had significant, indeed decisive, state support for its attacks. Officials of the Saudi government, the plaintiffs’ attorneys contend, formed and operated a network inside the United States that provided crucial assistance to the first cohort of 9/11 hijackers to enter the country.
The 71-page document, released in redacted form earlier this month, summarizes what the plaintiffs say they’ve learned through the evidence obtained in discovery and recently declassified materials. They allege that Saudi officials—most notably Fahad al-Thumairy, an imam at a Los Angeles mosque and an accredited diplomat at Saudi Arabia’s consulate in that city, and Omar al-Bayoumi, who masqueraded as a graduate student but was identified by the FBI as an intelligence operative—were not rogue operators but rather the front end of a conspiracy that included the Saudi embassy in Washington and senior government officials in Riyadh….
In the Saudi case, the help given some of the hijackers by Saudi officials included, but was not limited to, finance. There was logistical help as well. There was evidence, for example, of a Saudi official casing the Capitol, filming it from various sides as a possible target. Should the plaintiffs finally win, they stand to gain $4.2 billion from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
And if Changpeng Zhao and his business Binance end up having to pay tens of billions of dollars to the survivors, heirs, and families of those wounded or killed in the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, no one in his right mind will help any terror group with its financing.
Frank Anderson says
Whan large numbers of plaintiffs join in filing a lawsuit, the defense bankrupts the plaintiffs and their law firm by deposing every plaintiff as long as possible. A fortune can be consumed in legal fees, expenses and deposition transcripts that will consume amazing amounts of money before the case ever reaches a hearing. This is where a class action may help by allowing a representative present the claim on behalf of other claimants controlling the cost of prosecuting the case. The strength of a claim is not decided by the number of plaintiffs.
I was present in a 1983 meeting of lawyers for electric cooperatives who were discussing how to prevent members from challenging the corrupt control of the boards and management rampant in the state. This was their plan, hoping the dissatisfied members would be foolish enough to come into litigation with large numbers instead of pooling their money to fight the corruption. Too many named plaintiffs offer an easy target for destroying an otherwise sound case. (The presence of crime or fraud destroys privilege. In re Grand Jury, 640 F.2d 49). Once privilege has been destroyed it cannot be reclaimed. US v. Krasnov, affirmed sub nom, Oppenheimer v. US, 355 US 5 (1957)) A lawyer’s office is not a nest of vipers in which to hatch out frauds and perjuries. Gebhardt v. United Railways.
Please discuss with a currently licensed lawyer practicing in your jurisdiction for legal advice. I think this is a sound case that deserves to win.
abu taleb says
He is an accomplice of Hamas, if Hamas does terrorism, then he should be jailed for helping the terrorists
JS says
Isn’t CAIR also culpable in crimes committed by Hamas? Why hasn’t anything been done about them?
James Lincoln says
JS,
Because c.a.i.r. is cleverly branded as a muslim “civil rights organization”.
Their financing HAS to be investigated by the “new FBI” led by Kash Patel.
Reziac says
It was already known that China was financing CAIR, the MB, and Hamas… good to have more specific information.,
somehistory says
” no one in his right mind will help any terror group with its financing.”
The thing is, people like this goon, and the mozlum terrorists of saudi arabia, aren’t “in their right minds.”
Evil and right minded-ness are not compatible
And if the suit is successful, how can anyone ensure that the plaintiffs get any money?
Cases like this often end up with a “win” but the pockets of the losers don’t give up anything. .