By JENNIFER PELTZ and JON GAMBRELL

NEW YORK (AP) — Victims of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel sued Iran, Syria and North Korea on Monday, saying their governments supplied the terrorist group with money, weapons and know-how needed to carry out the assault that precipitated Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in New York, seeks at least $4 billion in damages for “a coordination of extrajudicial killings, hostage takings, and related horrors for which the defendants provided material support and resources.”

Iran’s mission to the United Nations declined to comment on the allegations, while Syria and North Korea did not respond.

The United States has deemed Iran, Syria and North Korea to be state sponsors of terrorism, and Washington has designated Hamas as what’s known as a specially designated global terrorist.

Because such countries rarely abide by court rulings against them in the United States, if the lawsuit’s plaintiffs are successful, they could seek compensation from a fund created by Congress that allows American victims of terrorism to receive payouts. The money comes from seized assets, fines or other penalties leveled against those that, for example, do business with a state sponsor of terrorism.

The lawsuit draws on previous court findings, reports from U.S. and other government agencies, and statements over some years by Hamas, Iranian and Syrian officials about their ties. The complaint also points to indications that Hamas fighters used North Korean weapons in the Oct. 7 attack.

But the suit doesn’t provide specific evidence that Tehran, Damascus or Pyongyang knew in advance about the assault. It accuses the three countries of providing weapons, technology and financial support necessary for the attack to occur.

Iran has denied knowing about the Oct. 7 attack ahead of time, though officials up to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have praised the assault.

Iran has armed Hamas as a counter to Israel, which the Islamic Republic has long viewed as its regional archenemy.

In the years since the collapse of Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, Iran and Israel have been locked in a shadow war of attacks on land and at sea. Those attacks exploded into the open after an apparent Israeli attack targeting Iran’s embassy complex in Damascus, Syria, during the Israel-Hamas war, which sparked Tehran’s unprecedented drone-and-missile attack on Israel in April.

Neighboring Syria has relied on Iranian support to keep embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad in power amid a grinding civil war that began with the 2011 Arab Spring protests. Like Iran, Syria also offered public support for Hamas after the Oct. 7 attack.

North Korea denies that it arms Hamas. However, video and weapons seized by Israel show Hamas fighters likely fired North Korean weapons during the Oct. 7 attack

South Korean officials, two experts on North Korean arms and an Associated Press analysis of weapons captured on the battlefield by Israel point toward Hamas using Pyongyang’s F-7 rocket-propelled grenade, a shoulder-fired weapon that fighters typically use against armored vehicles.

The lawsuit specifically cites the use of the F-7 grenade in the attack as a sign of Pyongyang’s involvement.

“Through this case, we will be able to prove what occurred, who the victims were, who the perpetrators were — and it will not just create a record in real time, but for all of history,” said one of the attorneys, James Pasch of the ADL, also called the Anti-Defamation League. The Jewish advocacy group frequently speaks out against antisemitism and extremism.

Hamas terrorists killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted about 250 during the Oct. 7 attack. Israel invaded Gaza in response. The war has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. It doesn’t say how many were civilians or fighters.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of over 125 plaintiffs, including the estates and relatives of people who were killed, plus people who were physically and/or emotionally injured. All are related to, or are themselves, U.S. citizens.

Under U.S. law, foreign governments can be held liable, in some circumstances, for deaths or injuries caused by acts of terrorism or by providing material support or resources for them.

The 1976 statute cited in the lawsuit, the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, is a frequent tool for American plaintiffs seeking to hold foreign governments accountable. In one example, a federal judge in Washington ordered North Korea in 2018 to pay $500 million in a wrongful death suit filed by the parents of Otto Warmbier, an American college student who died shortly after being released from that country.

People held as prisoners by Iran in the past have successfully sued Iran in U.S. federal court, seeking money earlier frozen by the U.S.

The new lawsuit joins a growing list of Israel-Hamas war-related cases in U.S. courts.

Last week, for example, Israelis who were taken hostage or lost loved ones during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack sued the United Nations agency that aids Palestinians, claiming it has helped finance the group by paying agency staffers in U.S. dollars and thereby funneling them to money-changers in Gaza who allegedly give a cut to Hamas.

The agency, known as UNRWA, has denied that it knowingly aids Hamas or other militant groups.

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Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. AP writers Courtney Bonnell and Eric Tucker in Washington contributed.

A Target Center folk hero will continue to don a Timberwolves jersey.

Luka Garza agreed to a two-year, minimum deal with Minnesota, a source confirmed Monday. The University of Iowa alum will make north of $2.1 million next season after previously playing two seasons on two-way deals for Minnesota.

Garza appeared in 25 games for the Timberwolves during the 2023-24 season. He’s an emergency big man on the current roster behind the likes of Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns and Naz Reid. But the 25-year-old is beloved in the organization for his professionalism and readiness.

That was on full display in a mid-March game against the Denver Nuggets when a slew of injuries left the Wolves with just Garza and Kyle Anderson as big man options. Garza compiled 11 points and six rebounds that game, all while battling NBA MVP Nikola Jokic defensively in the trenches for 22 minutes of Minnesota’s 3-point defeat.

“Luka, he’s always been ready from Day 1. He practices like he’s gonna play in the game, every day he prepares. He’s another guy, an energy guy, that we need,” Wolves guard Mike Conley said after that Denver game. “Who knows when he’s gonna play, but when he does, you know what you’re gonna get from him. He lifts everybody’s energy up as a group.”

That instills confidence that Garza can be an apt option should the Wolves lose anyone to injury next season, and provides optionality should opportunities to shuffle the roster arise mid-season.

Garza is a natural scorer who continues to make strides athletically, which has only aided in his defensive growth. His energy on the court, as well as his collegiate proximity to the Twin Cities, have made Garza a fan favorite. The home crowd erupts when he enters games and makes an impact.

At least for the foreseeable future, there will be more opportunities to cheer.

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FARGO, N.D. — Pamela Leath says she is an avid watcher of Fox New and loves “Fox & Friends,” the national news channel’s morning show.

So it isn’t a surprise that the West Fargo woman was the first person in line at 3 a.m. Monday, July 1, outside Randy’s Diner Too, waiting for a seat in the West Fargo restaurant and her chance to see “Fox & Friends” air live inside the eatery.

“I think it is a wonderful opportunity to show off our community and how family oriented we are,” she said of “Fox & Friends” coming to West Fargo.

Leath and dozens of others waited patiently in line before Randy’s opened its doors shortly before 5 a.m. Monday. When the restaurant was packed, the customers cheered as “Fox & Friends” co-anchor Brian Kilmeade greeted America. His co-hosts appeared from New York.

Kilmeade broadcast from West Fargo because North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum is on a “short, short, short list,” as Kilmeade put it, of finalists who could become former President Donald Trump’s running mate. Trump, who appears frequently on “Fox & Friends,” has made glowing remarks about Burgum to Kilmeade, the co-anchor told The Forum newspaper on Monday.

“I think Trump loves the fact that they’re kind of in the same mindset,” Kilmeade said when asked about Burgum’s potential to be Trump’s vice president. “We did our thing in business. Now it’s time to help the country.”

Burgum walked into Randy’s shortly before 6 a.m. Monday, shaking hands, greeting and hugging patrons as he went through the restaurant. He then sat down with Kilmeade for a live interview, possibly with more than a million people watching on their televisions across the country.

“We were thrilled to welcome ‘Fox & Friends’ to North Dakota and share with them the best of America,” Burgum said in a statement to The Forum. “First Lady Kathryn and I were grateful for all the support from North Dakotans this morning.”

The Fox News morning show’s visit to West Fargo — it was its first to North Dakota — is part of a “Breakfast With Friends” series during which “Fox & Friends” will interview reported Trump running mate finalists in their home states. Trump has said little about who the finalists are, though media reports suggest Burgum, along with U.S. Sens. J.D. Vance, of Ohio, and Marco Rubio, of Florida, are the top picks to be the presumed Republican presidential nominee’s right-hand man.

Trump has said he will announce his running mate around the time of the Republican National Convention, which runs July 15-18 in Milwaukee.

Burgum has served as North Dakota’s governor since 2016. His office suggested Randy’s as a location for the “Fox & Friends” interview.

Randy’s owner Heidi Roggenkamp said her staff served roughly 300 people during the three-hour show.

“I think it just shows that people were excited to draw some attention to our community,” she said. “When they have a show that’s called ‘Breakfast with Friends,’ that’s literally what we do every single day.”

People complimented the food and service, and the crowd was positive and respectful, Roggenkamp said. She said she was excited to show customers how hard her staff works.

“To me, that was the biggest thing,” she said of her staff. “I was so excited for them.”

‘He will do it’
Burgum ran for president but ended his campaign in December amid low polling numbers.

In January, Burgum decided not to seek a third term as the state’s leader. Since then, he has spent a significant amount of time campaigning for Trump, raising speculation that he could be the former president’s running mate.

Trump also has teased an announcement about Burgum, possibly as part of his cabinet.

Burgum has been critical of Trump in the past, though more so of President Joe Biden. The Democrat defeated Trump in 2020 and will face Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

Biden is harmful for North Dakota and the U.S., Burgum has said, adding Trump has the best chance to beat the Democrat.

Kilmeade interviewed Burgum and his wife, Kathryn, at their ranch near Fargo. The governor said he would do business with Trump now that he’s gotten to know him.

“He’s focused and cares deeply for this country,” Burgum said of Trump during the interview.

When asked if he wants to be vice president, Burgum said he wants to be in the spot where he and his wife can make the most impact.

Before becoming governor, Burgum created Great Plains Software before selling it to Microsoft in 2001. He also founded the Kilbourne Group, a real estate development firm, and co-founded Arthur Ventures, which invests in software companies.

Burgum used his experience as a successful businessman to serve as governor, Kilmeade told The Forum. Burgum can help Trump get the presidency and help him lead the country, Kilmeade said.

“All he does his entire life is execute,” Kilmeade said of Burgum. “If you give Doug Burgum a job, his whole career indicates he will do it and do it well.”

North Dakota native and actor Josh Duhamel and U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., also appeared at Randy’s.

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S. Nichole Holzhauer-Feeney, MD, FAAP | (TNS) American Academy of Pediatrics

On any other day of the year, would you hand your child matches or a flaming candle to play with? Probably, a hard no.

You work so hard all year long to keep your child safe. Don’t let the Fourth of July mess with your common sense.

Lighting fireworks in the backyard or nearby field might seem like a festive way to entertain the kids. However, thousands of people, most of them children, teens and young adults, are injured each year while using fireworks. Most of these injuries happen in the month around the Fourth of July.

Help keep the holiday fun and safe by leaving any fireworks to trained professionals.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) received reports of eight deaths and about 9,700 injuries that involved fireworks in 2023. Teens between the ages of 15 and 19 had the highest rate of injuries treated in emergency departments, and children ages 5 to 9 years old had the second highest rate.

About 66% of these fireworks-related injuries took place between June 16 and July 16. Among parts of the body most often burned or wounded were hands and fingers (35%); head, face and ears (22%); and eyes (19%).

A safer way to celebrate on the Fourth is to view fireworks from a safe distance. Professional fireworks shows are going to be more spectacular, and safer, than backyard fireworks. Enjoy them at a safe distance, at least 500 feet away from the fireworks launch site. This will help avoid injuries and protect your child’s hearing.

Fireworks and firecrackers can be as loud as 150 decibels — a lot louder than what’s considered a safe listening level (75–80 decibels). At close distance, even one loud burst is enough to cause some permanent hearing damage.

Also keep in mind that if you find any unexploded or “dud” fireworks that fell to the ground, they may still go off. Keep your distance and call your local fire or police department right away.

If public fireworks displays are canceled in your area because of dry conditions and the risk of wildfires, consider viewing a laser or drone light show that a growing number of communities offer instead. Many cities and other areas also have dangerous air quality levels due to wildfires. Make sure to check your local regulations about safe outdoor activities and events.

Wave a flag (or glow stick) instead of a sparkler. Sparklers may seem relatively harmless, as fireworks go. But according to the CPSC, nearly half of fireworks injuries to children under age 5 are related to sparklers. Surprised? Consider this:

Sparklers burn at an extremely high heat: 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit—hot enough to melt some metals.
Sparks can ignite clothing on fire and cause eye injuries.
Touching a lit sparkler to skin can result in third-degree burns.

There were about 700 emergency department-treated injuries associated with sparklers in 2023. Roughly 800 injuries were related to firecrackers.

Remember that even if fireworks are legal to purchase and use in your community, they are not safe around children. Talk with your pediatrician if you have any questions about safely enjoying fireworks displays.

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About Dr. Feeney

S. Nichole Holzhauer-Feeney, MD, FAAP, is a board certified pediatrician and emergency physician at Grand River Hospital in Rifle, CO. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and its Colorado chapter, and serves as a state immunization representative. She also serves on the Colorado State Emergency Medical and Trauma Services Advisory Council.

©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.