A group of Republican senators, led by Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rick Scott (R-FL), unveiled the Limiting Immunity for Assisting Backers of Lethal Extremism (LIABLE) Act on Tuesday, aiming to strip legal immunity from international organizations that provide support to designated terrorist groups.
The proposed legislation seeks to empower American victims of terrorism to pursue legal action against such organizations in U.S. courts.
The bill directly targets what the senators describe as loopholes within the International Organizations Immunities Act (IOIA), which currently shields certain international entities from lawsuits.
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The senators argue that organizations like the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) have provided material support to groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, thereby facilitating acts of terrorism.
Senator Rick Scott emphasized UNRWA’s alleged role in supporting Hamas, particularly in the context of the October 7th attacks. “For years, UNRWA has been aiding Iran-backed Hamas in their spread of hateful antisemitism,” Scott stated. “UNRWA has supported Hamas in enabling these terrorists to commit the horrific massacre and mass kidnapping of Israelis and Jewish Americans over 550 days ago, on October 7th, and the sick individuals responsible for this terrorism must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
“The United Nations Relief and Works Agency officials have for decades knowingly provided support to Hamas terrorists, including salaries and materials,” Cruz said. “That support facilitated Hamas’s terrorist attack on October 7th, which was the worst one-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and included the murder and kidnapping of dozens of Americans. Those victims and their families deserve the ability to hold UNRWA accountable, and the LIABLE Act would give them that opportunity.”
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Other senators joining the initiative, including Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ted Budd (R-NC), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Barrasso (R-WY), and Eric Schmitt (R-MO), also voiced strong support for the legislation. They argued that international organizations providing material support to terrorism should be held legally responsible for their complicity.
Senator Kevin Cramer stated, “International organizations who knowingly support foreign terrorist organizations should be held legally responsible for their complicity in terrorism. The LIABLE Act ensures those who provide material support to terrorism—whether through direct involvement or by aiding and abetting—can no longer hide behind legal immunity.”
Senator Ted Budd added, “America must send a clear message: supporting terrorism will never be tolerated or ignored.”
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The proposed legislation comes amidst growing scrutiny of UNRWA’s operations and its alleged ties to Hamas, particularly following reports of UNRWA staff involvement in the October 7th attacks. The senators aim to provide a legal avenue for American victims and their families to seek justice and hold these organizations accountable.
The bill now faces consideration in the Senate, where it will undergo further debate and potential amendments.
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