Scott, Cruz Bill: Grant Terrorism Victims Ability to Sue Sympathetic Organizations

Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and some of their Republican colleagues in the upper chamber have introduced The Limiting Immunity for Assisting Backers of Lethal Extremism (LIABLE) Act, which would grant American victims of terrorism the ability to sue international organizations proven to be sympathetic to terrorist groups. The bill would also remove immunity from the international organizations that display this behavior.

Per Sen. Cruz, organizations such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) would lose their legal immunity under the International Organization Immunity Act (IOIA), which parallels the immunity provided to foreign states through the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA).

Sen. Cruz also provided the following information:

"During the Biden administration, UNRWA received hundreds of millions of dollars which was poured into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. That process would normally constitute material support for terrorism, because the assistance directly and indirectly benefits Hamas—a known terrorist group. And yet, the Biden administration granted waivers among other legislative measures to circumvent the law and enable UNRWA to support Hamas."

Sen. Scott referred specifically to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which has been accused of "aiding" Hamas and its fight against Israel and the Jewish people.

“For years, UNRWA has been aiding Iran-backed Hamas in their spread of hateful antisemitism," said Sen. Scott. "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. I’m proud to join my colleague, Senator Ted Cruz, to introduce the LIABLE Act and ensure the victims and their families can finally bring UNRWA to justice.”

Moreover, Sen. Cruz shared that UNRWA played a part in the Oct. 7 attack against Israel due to their alleged support.

“The United Nations Relief and Works Agency officials have for decades knowingly provided support to Hamas terrorists, including salaries and materials," said Sen. Cruz. "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.”

Alongside Sens. Cruz and Scott, the LIABLE Act is co-sponsored by Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Steve Daines (R-MT), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Barrasso (R-WY), and Eric Schmitt (R-MO).