A prominent Palestinian American developer has asked a federal judge in Miami to dismiss a lawsuit accusing him of supporting Hamas through his business projects in Gaza. The case was brought by around 200 American plaintiffs, including families of victims of the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel, who are seeking damages under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The lawsuit alleges that Bashar Masri knew Hamas had built tunnels beneath two seaside hotels he developed in Gaza and that the group used the properties to help stage its assault. It also claims that solar panels at an industrial zone he operated supplied power to underground militant infrastructure.

Masri’s lawyers argue that he had no knowledge of any such activities and condemn the October 2023 attacks as acts of terrorism. They contend the complaint relies on speculation and wrongly equates participating in economic development in Gaza with supporting terrorism.

Masri is known for major development projects, including the first planned Palestinian city in the West Bank and several high-profile ventures in Gaza that were heavily damaged during the war. Among the plaintiffs is a former business partner whose daughter was killed in the October 7 attack.