Palestinian-American billionaire Bashar Masri is at the center of a lawsuit filed by families of American victims killed in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
Nearly 1,200 Israelis were killed, and 240 hostages were taken when Hamas launched a coordinated attack across the Gaza border.
The lawsuit, filed on Monday in DC, alleges that Masri played a significant role in helping Hamas prepare for the attack by allowing his companies to aid in constructing vital military infrastructure.
It is alleged the construction was paid for by USAID, and Masri also obtained huge grants from the World Bank through one of their subsidiaries, International Finance Corporation (IFC).
American Victims of October 7 Sue Bashar Masri
The plaintiffs accuse Masri of using his Gaza-based companies—including Palestine Development & Investment Company (PADICO), Palestine Real Estate Investment Company (PRICO), and Palestinian Industrial Estate Development Company (PIEDCO)—to secretly support Hamas operations.
