More than 100 victims and relatives of victims of the Oct 7 attack by Hamas militants in Israel sued Iran, Syria and North Korea on Monday (July 1), accusing the countries of providing Hamas support and demanding at least US$4 billion (S$5.4 billion) in damages.

The lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington, DC, by the Anti-Defamation League is the largest case against foreign countries in connection with the attack, and the first backed by a Jewish organisation, the ADL said in a press release.

It accuses the three countries of providing financial, military and tactical support to Hamas. The US government has designed Iran, Syria and North Korea state sponsors of terrorism.

More than 1,200 people were killed in the attack and 250 others were taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. The plaintiffs in the case include US citizens injured on Oct 7, as well as relatives and the estates of victims killed in the attack.

Israel's offencive in Gaza in response has killed nearly 38,000 people, according to Gazan health officials, and left the enclave in ruins.

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