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Anti-Terrorism Lawsuit/

Arab Bank Litigation

Arab Bank Litigation

Our anti-terrorism team won the first jury trial under the Anti-Terrorism Act finding Arab Bank liable for providing financial support to the Hamas terrorist group.

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A painting depicting a scene from a federal court trial. A lawyer presents evidence to a jury while a judge and others look on.
Written by: Michael Elsner
Last Updated: June 11, 2026

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Case Overview

Arab Bank is a major financial institution that supported terrorist groups during the second intifada. Motley Rice brought the complex financial case to a Brooklyn jury and to the Supreme Court in holding Arab Bank responsible on behalf of victims of terrorist attacks.

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Key takeaways about Arab Bank court cases

  • Starting in 2004, Motley Rice engaged in litigation against Arab Bank on behalf of terrorism survivors and their families.
  • Our lawyers litigated several major cases to hold supporters of terrorism accountable in court. These cases involve complex legal questions related to terrorism and its supporters.
  • After lengthy global financial discovery, Motley Rice attorneys tried the first ever jury trial against an international bank. The jury found Arab Bank liable for its conduct supporting Hamas.
  • U.S. citizens may be able to file lawsuits against foreign financial institutions like Arab Bank under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

What is Arab Bank?

Arab Bank is a large financial institution in the Middle East. Headquartered in Amman, Jordan, its banking network has over 600 branches across five continents. In 2025, the company reported over $3 billion in revenue and over $766 million in profits.

Why was Arab Bank facing lawsuits?

Arab Bank faced numerous lawsuits alleging it financed and facilitated terrorism. For example, the bank allegedly facilitated payments to Hamas. In one alleged action, the former New York City branch of Arab Bank processed currency conversions to transfer U.S. dollars to Hamas accounts in the West Bank and Gaza. The New York City branch closed in 2005.

Arab Bank has also faced litigation alleging such illegal activity as:

  • Financing payments to families of Hamas suicide bombers
  • Laundering money through Hamas-affiliated charities
  • Providing material support and resources to organizations associated with terror attacks that killed civilians. These include Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and others.

Motley Rice represented approximately 6,000 foreign victims and 130 American citizens in these matters.

Contact an anti-terrorism attorney

Our deepest sympathies go out to those impacted by terrorist attacks sponsored by charities, financial institutions and private individuals. We are committed to holding responsible parties accountable for facilitating acts of terrorism.

If you have a loved one who is a U.S. citizen and was harmed in an attack by Hamas or another group associated with terrorist activities, you may be able to file a lawsuit against those that knowingly or intentionally provide material support to terrorist groups.

Contact Us Today

You can also reach our team by calling 1.800.768.4026.

How U.S. laws help people seek justice from foreign sponsors of terrorism

The U.S. has laws that give victims of terrorist attacks legal options, even if the attack was carried out abroad or if the attacker and their sponsors are foreign entities. In our Arab Bank litigation, we supported our claims on behalf of victims using these important laws:

  • Alien Tort Statute (ATS): This statute, codified as 28 U.S.C. § 1350, gives U.S. federal courts power to handle cases where a foreign citizen sues an entity that violated international law.
  • Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA): This statute, codified as 18 U.S.C. § 2333 et. Seq., allows any U.S. national to sue for injuries resulting from acts of international terrorism.

Survivors of terror attacks and families of victims may have legal options to seek compensation and justice from foreign or domestic financial institutions and other entities. At Motley Rice, our experience in anti-terrorism cases allows us to evaluate your case to determine the parties responsible for your injuries.

Arab Bank litigation timeline

02.09.18

Appeals court triggers settlement in Hamas-funding case

The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals effectively ended Linde v. Arab Bank and Almog v. Arab Bank by vacating the 2014 jury verdict. The parties in these cases had previously agreed to settle out of court once the verdict was upheld or reversed on appeal.

04.24.18

Supreme Court holds that the Alien Tort Statute does not apply to corporations

In Jesner v. Arab Bank, PLC, the Supreme Court held that the ATS does not allow foreign nationals to sue corporations. This ruling effectively ended all claims by non-U.S. citizens against the Arab Bank.

04.03.17

Supreme Court agrees to hear arguments in Jesner v. Arab Bank, PLC

The Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments about the ATS in Jesner v. Arab Bank. Motley Rice represented approximately 6,000 plaintiffs in this case.

Learn more about the Supreme Court petition here.

09.22.14

New York jury finds Arab Bank liable for Hamas attacks

In 2014, a jury in Brooklyn, New York, unanimously found the Arab Bank liable for 24 Hamas terrorist attacks carried out between March 2001 and September 2004. In Linde v. Arab Bank, PLC, jury members concluded the Arab Bank provided material support for terrorist attacks that resulted in the injury and death of American citizens. This ruling was appealed to the 2nd Circuit.

09.19.14

State Department forwards information in Linde case a day too late

The day after the jury began to consider the case against the Arab Bank in Linde v. Arab Bank, PLC, the State Department sent a response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request sent by the attorneys representing victims.

The response would have been critical to proving the victims’ cases if it had been received earlier. It touched on evidence that, in 2003, the U.S. relayed information to Saudi Arabia about payments sent to families of terrorists.

07.12.10

Judge sanctions Arab Bank in Linde case

A judge in Linde v. Arab Bank, PLC, sanctioned the Arab Bank for repeated failures to provide discovery documents. The bank had ignored requests to hand over hundreds of thousands of customer records. The judge noted that, based on their behavior, a jury should be instructed that it may infer liability based on the bank’s actions during the discovery process.

Read the full order here.

01.29.07

Appeals judge upholds key claims in Almog case

Victims are largely successful on an appeal in the Almog case to continue litigation against the Arab Bank. The court found that the ATS allows victims to argue the Arab Bank’s liability for aiding and abetting violations of international law.

12.21.04

Motley Rice files a lawsuit on behalf of decades’ worth of terrorism victims

In December 2004, Motley Rice filed Almog v. Arab Bank as a related case to Linde v. Arab Bank. The case consolidated two groups of victims (from the U.S. and abroad), totaling over 6,000 people. All of the consolidated cases involve terrorist attacks in Israel and Palestine between January 1995 and July 2005.

07.02.04

First lawsuit filed on behalf of Hamas victims

In July 2004, Linde v. Arab Bank was filed on behalf of victims of Hamas terrorist attacks occurring after March 2001. The lawsuit sought compensation from the Arab Bank for its alleged role in providing financial services and support to terrorists.

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Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Arab Bank cases

Can you win a lawsuit against a foreign bank if you are a U.S. citizen?

Yes, U.S. citizens can file lawsuits against foreign businesses like banks under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). This law gives citizens the ability to sue for injuries from acts of international terrorism. Successful cases filed under the ATA can result in compensation for attack survivors and their families.

How do you prove that a bank supported a foreign terrorist organization (FTO)?

Lawsuits involving acts of terror committed by FTOs are very complex and usually involve many defendants. Knowledgeable anti-terrorism lawyers have resources and strategies to uncover evidence linking financial entities to terrorism groups.

Our anti-terrorism lawsuit experience

Our attorneys have decades of experience working for survivors of terrorist attacks and their families. This includes multiple cases alleging that Arab Bank provided financial and material support to terrorist organizations. These lawsuits have involved both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals affected by terrorism.

Learn more about our work with terrorism victims here.

Key takeaways

What is Arab Bank?

How U.S. laws help people seek justice from foreign sponsors of terrorism

Arab Bank litigation timeline

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Arab Bank cases

Our anti-terrorism lawsuit experience

Michael E. Elsner

Member

Michael Elsner litigates complex civil matters on behalf of people and businesses victimized by commercial malfeasance, violations of human rights, acts of terrorism, occupational disease and environmental disasters. He manages large-scale cross-border litigation and conducts detailed factual investigations.

Sources
  1. 18 U.S. Code § 2333 - Civil remedies.
  2. 28 U.S. Code § 1350 - Alien’s action for tort.
  3. Arab News. Arab Bank to Shut NY Branch.
  4. Forbes. Arab Bank.
  5. PR Newswire. Jury Finds Arab Bank plc Liable For Financing Terrorist Activity.
  6. United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Linde v. Arab Bank, PLC.
  7. United States District Court, E.D. New York. Almog v. Arab Bank, PLC.
  8. United States Supreme Court. Jesner v. Arab Bank, PLC.