Senator Ted Cruz of Texas is proposing a bill that would allow American victims of terrorist groups to sue organizations that fund those groups. This legislation, known as the Limiting Immunity for Assisting Backers of Lethal Extremism (LIABLE) Act, is similar to a bill he introduced previously and had the support of then-Senator Marco Rubio.

Currently, Americans can sue foreign governments in specific situations outlined in the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA). However, they are unable to sue international organizations, which are protected by the International Organization Immunities Act (IOIA). The LIABLE Act aims to create an exception to the IOIA, enabling Americans to sue organizations that knowingly provide support or resources to terrorist groups.

A primary focus of this legislation is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). UNRWA has faced accusations of aiding Hamas before, during, and after the October 7th attacks. The agency has taken action, including firing employees allegedly involved in the attacks.

UNRWA officials have disputed these claims. William Deere, Director of UNRWA's Representative Office in Washington, stated that the narrative is false and was debunked by the U.S. National Intelligence Council. He also noted that Israeli criticism of UNRWA can lead to mischaracterizations of the agency.

Reports have emerged of individuals with ties to UNRWA being involved in the October 7th attacks. Additionally, there have been instances of UNRWA teachers celebrating the attacks on social media. Allegations of ties between UNRWA and Palestinian terror groups predate the October 7th attacks.

In the past, the U.S. has taken actions regarding UNRWA funding. Funding was paused in 2024, and in 2025, an executive order was issued that pulled U.S. funding from several U.N. organizations, including UNRWA.