October 7 Victims To Sue Meta Over Live Broadcasts of Hamas Atrocities

In a significant legal move, victims of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, along with their families and users of Facebook and Instagram, have submitted a request to the Tel Aviv District Court for approval of a class action lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of the two social networks. The proposed suit seeks damages exceeding 4 billion shekels (approximately $1.05 billion USD at current exchange rates), accusing Meta of playing a role in the dissemination of graphic content during the attack.

The core allegations center on Meta's platforms allegedly allowing the live broadcasting of atrocity videos captured by Hamas militants on October 7. These videos reportedly depicted acts of violence, murder, and kidnapping in real-time, exacerbating the terror and trauma. Compounding the distress, some plaintiffs claim they first learned about the murder or abduction of their relatives through these broadcasts on Facebook and Instagram, rather than through official channels or personal notifications. This discovery via social media is cited as causing additional emotional harm and psychological damage.

The lawsuit argues that Meta bears responsibility for failing to prevent or swiftly remove such content, potentially violating Israeli laws related to privacy, emotional distress, and the facilitation of harmful material. While specific legal statutes aren't detailed in initial reports, the claims appear grounded in broader principles of negligence and the duty of platforms to moderate content during crises. The filing emphasizes Meta's role in the "broadcasting of atrocity videos live on Facebook," highlighting how the platforms' algorithms and live-streaming features may have contributed to the widespread visibility of the footage.

This case emerges amid ongoing scrutiny of social media's handling of violent content from the Israel-Hamas war. During the October 7 attack, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and the abduction of around 250 hostages, Hamas fighters reportedly used body cameras and live streams to document and publicize their actions, with some footage quickly appearing on platforms like Facebook. Critics have long accused Meta of inconsistent content moderation, particularly in conflict zones, where graphic material can spread rapidly before being flagged or removed.

As of August 4, 2025, the Tel Aviv District Court has not yet ruled on whether to certify the class action, which would allow a larger group of affected individuals to join without individual filings. If approved, it could set a precedent for holding tech giants accountable for user-generated content in real-time events. Meta has not publicly responded to the lawsuit in available reports, but the company has previously defended its moderation efforts during the conflict, stating it removed millions of pieces of harmful content and worked with fact-checkers.

This lawsuit adds to a series of legal actions stemming from the October 7 events, though it stands out for targeting a social media company rather than state actors or terrorist organizations. For context, other related suits include those against Iran, Syria, and North Korea for allegedly supporting Hamas, as well as claims against UNRWA and Binance for financial ties to the group. However, this Meta case uniquely focuses on the psychological impact of digital dissemination.

Details remain limited as the story is breaking, with the filing reported just hours ago. Further developments, including Meta's defense and court decisions, are expected in the coming weeks.