Lawsuit claims American publisher aided Hamas by paying journalist who held hostage

In October 2023, Almog Meir Jan, an Israeli citizen, was kidnapped by Abdallah Aljamal, a Hamas operative, and held hostage until his rescue by the Israel Defense Forces. During this period, Jan alleges that the Defendant, People Media Project, compensated Aljamal for his articles, despite the fact that Aljamal was responsible for his captivity. The case presents questions under the Alien Tort Statute (ATS), primarily focusing on whether the publishers were aware that they were funding a Hamas operative. The court highlighted that for aiding and abetting liability to be established, there must be actual knowledge of the tortious actions undertaken by Aljamal. Jan's allegations suggest that since May 2019, the Palestine Chronicle had been providing a platform for Aljamal's contributions, which included propagating Hamas narratives. Furthermore, screenshots from the publication show a transition in Aljamal's role description shortly after Jan's rescue, hinting at an awareness of his actions by the defendants. Despite the serious allegations, the court noted that without proof of actual knowledge by the publishers regarding Aljamal's affiliations, the claims for compensation would not stand without being dismissed. The opportunity for Jan to amend the complaint was granted by the court, paving the way for a renewed examination of the claims under the ATS standard of accomplice liability, suggesting that if Jan can present further specific facts, his allegations may hold weight in court.