Palestinian Authorities Appeal $656 Million Judgment to U.S. Supreme Court

The Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority filed an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court of the United States on Thursday to block a $656 million judgment. The payment is the result of a lawsuit filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act by families and victims of attacks in Jerusalem during the early 2000s that killed 33 people.

The Palestinian authorities argue that paying the judgment now would "destabilize critical government services Petitioners provide in the West Bank, injure innocent citizens, and jeopardize regional security."

This legal move follows a series of judicial reversals. A New York federal court originally tossed the verdict, but the Supreme Court revived the lawsuits in 2025. In March 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reinstated the damages, leading to the current emergency request to halt the payout.