Sixty Israeli civilians last week filed a lawsuit against five Lebanese banks operating in the United States, claiming they knowingly maintained accounts that fund the militant group Hezbollah.

The petitioners, who were either injured or lost relatives in the Second Lebanon War, filed their lawsuit in a federal court in New York.

The lawsuit claims that the banks were Hezbollah's partners in crime, as they knowingly offered financial services to the group, which is recognized by the U.S. as a terrorist organization, and to its fund-raising arm.

The statement of claim included a copy of a Hezbollah donation form, which includes the option of having one's money applied toward the acquisition of missiles and weapons for Hezbollah fighters.

The lawsuit is part of an international effort to fight terror by curbing the cash flow to terror organizations, said attorney Oren Gutterman, who is representing the Israeli claimants.

Gutterman added that if the banks are heavily fined in this case, it will prevent them from executing similar transactions in the future.