Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor on Monday declined to halt a $656 million judgment against the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority. The lawsuit was brought by Americans killed or wounded in attacks in Israel.
The order comes after the Supreme Court ruled last year in favor of the victims and their families. The Palestinian authorities had argued that paying the judgment could destabilize government services in the West Bank and asked the court to pause payment while they appeal the reinstatement of the verdict.
The case stems from attacks in Jerusalem in the early 2000s that resulted in 33 deaths and hundreds of injuries. Families filed their lawsuit under the Anti-Terrorism Act, which allows U.S. courts to hear cases brought by victims of international terror attacks.
Initially, a federal court in New York dismissed the verdict. However, the Supreme Court revived two cases in 2025. In March, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to reinstate the verdict. Attorneys for the plaintiffs stated at the time that the decision would allow justice to be served after a lengthy legal process.