Archive · 9 Jan 2026
US Judge Dismisses Lawsuit by Palestinian Americans in Gaza
Nine Palestinian Americans who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents sued the U.S. government.
They said the government should have helped them leave Gaza because of the war.
The war has caused many problems like destroyed homes, not enough food, and poor medical care.
The judge said she could not decide this because it involves complicated foreign policy decisions.
She also said the government has a plan to help people leave Gaza and that the plaintiffs had either been helped or had turned down offers.
The judge felt bad for the people in this situation but said she could not make the decision.
Nine Palestinian Americans sued the U.S. government for allegedly violating their constitutional right to equal protection by not evacuating them from Gaza.
The lawsuit was dismissed by Chief Judge Virginia Kendall, who stated she lacked the power to evaluate foreign policy decisions.
The plaintiffs claimed hardships such as destroyed homes, food shortages, and poor medical care imposed a duty on the government to evacuate them.
The judge noted that the U.S. government has developed an evacuation plan and that the plaintiffs had either been evacuated or rejected offers.
The lawsuit was filed against former and current U.S. President, Secretary of State, and Defense Secretary.
- Who
- Nine Palestinian Americans (U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents) and the U.S. government
- What
- A lawsuit alleging the U.S. government violated their constitutional right to equal protection by not evacuating them from Gaza
- When
- The lawsuit was filed in December 2024 and dismissed on January 8, 2025
- Where
- U.S. District Court in Chicago
- Why
- The judge stated she lacked the power to evaluate foreign policy decisions and expressed sympathy for the plaintiffs' situation
- Plaintiffs
- Nine Palestinian Americans (U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents)
- Judge
- Chief Judge Virginia Kendall, U.S. District Court in Chicago
- Date of Dismissal
- January 8, 2025
- Original Filing Date
- December 2024
- Defendants
- Former and current U.S. President, Secretary of State, and Defense Secretary
- Key Issue
- Alleged violation of constitutional right to equal protection
- Judge's Reason
- Lack of power to evaluate foreign policy decisions