Attorney General Alan Wilson of South Carolina has joined a coalition of 25 states in filing a friend-of-the-court brief aimed at holding organizations that allegedly provide material support to Hamas accountable. The move follows the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas against Israel.
“On October 7, 2023, Hamas perpetrated a terrorist attack against Israel that became the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust,” Attorney General Wilson said. “Meanwhile, these groups in America have allegedly violated federal law by providing material support to this terrorist organization.”
Court documents state that Americans for Muslims in Palestine (AMP) and the National Students for Justice in Palestine announced on October 8, 2023, their involvement in what they called a “Unity Intifada” under Hamas’s “unified command.”
The brief argues that states have an important role in holding individuals and organizations accountable if they materially support foreign terrorist groups. It highlights how public relations efforts by such groups can help spread terror messages internationally.
“We have been steadfast in our support of Israel as it defends itself from inexplicable violence,” Attorney General Wilson stated. “But the threat of Hamas’s violence has extended to our shores because of the support of groups like these. Rooting out terrorism is a matter of great urgency.”
The legal brief is led by Ohio and Idaho and includes participation from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming and the Arizona Legislature.
As South Carolina’s chief prosecutor and legal counsel according to its official website, Attorney General Wilson oversees criminal matters and civil litigation statewide. The office also works with law enforcement on prosecutions and provides victim support services throughout South Carolina.
