In a landmark case, Israeli victims and families sue Meta for enabling Hamas’s October 7 terror to go viral, accusing Facebook and Instagram of fueling the attack’s psychological devastation.
Tel Aviv — In a historic legal challenge, victims of Hamas’s October 7 massacre and their families have filed a $1 billion class-action lawsuit against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, accusing it of amplifying and prolonging the horror of the attack.
The lawsuit, submitted to the Tel Aviv District Court, is the first civil case of its kind in Israel against a tech giant for its alleged role in supporting terrorism. Plaintiffs say Meta allowed — and continues to allow — graphic, livestreamed footage of the atrocities to circulate globally.
Among the central plaintiffs is the Idan family from Kibbutz Nahal Oz, whose nightmare was broadcast in real time when Hamas terrorists stormed their home. Maayan Idan, the eldest daughter, was murdered on camera. Her father, Tsachi, was kidnapped to Gaza and later murdered in captivity; his body was only returned during the latest hostage deal.
The suit alleges that Meta’s inaction and failure to swiftly remove the brutal content caused irreparable psychological damage — especially to young users who were involuntarily exposed to the footage.
“The horrific footage distributed by Facebook and Instagram on October 7 trampled the petitioners’ rights in the most harrowing way imaginable,” the plaintiffs state.
They argue that Meta’s platforms served as a weapon in the terrorists’ arsenal, enabling them to broadcast murder and terror to the world and psychologically traumatize millions. Despite repeated calls to remove the videos, the lawsuit says, the footage continues to circulate.
The case is seen as a watershed moment in holding social media companies accountable for their role in amplifying terrorism. If successful, it could set a global precedent for tech giants facing liability in the wake of terror attacks.
