Eyal Balva visits the grave of his son, Sgt. First Class (Res.) Omer Balva, weekly in Herzliya, Israel, reflecting on their close bond. Omer, a 22-year-old US citizen, was killed on October 20, 2023, by a Hezbollah-fired antitank missile while stationed near the Lebanese border. His death has become a rallying point for accountability as the Balva family and other victims’ families pursue legal action against Iran for funding Hezbollah and other terrorist groups.
The lawsuit, filed on November 17, in the US District Court of the District of Columbia, accuses Iran of providing material support to groups responsible for the deaths of American citizens during the October 7 Hamas-led invasion and subsequent multi-front conflict. The suit represents 47 plaintiffs, including families of Israeli-Americans killed in the attacks.
Omer, described as a remarkable young man full of love and humor, had returned to Israel after learning of the October 7 massacre, which claimed over 1,200 lives and resulted in the abduction of 251 people. He joined his unit near the Lebanese border, believing it to be safer than Gaza, only to be killed days later.
The lawsuit also cites Iran’s longstanding role in funding Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations, laying out evidence gathered from Gaza. Legal experts involved in the case, such as attorney Jonathan Missner, who had a personal connection to Omer, are optimistic about securing damages. Previous successful cases, like one involving the children of a couple killed by Hamas in 2015, set a precedent for such legal action.
“This is about more than money; it’s about justice and accountability,” said Missner, whose firm represents many of the plaintiffs. For the Balva family, the fight is deeply personal, driven by the need to honor Omer’s memory and hold those responsible for his death to account.