(NewsNation) — Lawyers for Saudi Arabia argued Wednesday that the country fought against terrorism and al-Qaida in the 1990s just like the United States and should not be a defendant in lawsuits seeking over $100 billion for relatives of people killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels listened Wednesday to arguments about evidence in the 20-year-old Manhattan case.

Members of 9/11 Justice, an organization comprising families of 9/11 victims, survivors and first responders, held a news conference Wednesday expressing relief that families may learn more about what happened in the lead-up to the 9/11 terrorist attacks 23 years ago.

“This is a monumental day for us. This is the first time the families can hear the full untethered story about what happened that day,” said Brett Eagleson, president of 9/11 Justice.

The news conference and court hearing follow years of advocacy and legal battles by the victims’ families in their pursuit of justice and transparency.

“I’ve seen senators from the extreme Left to the extreme Right come together on this, so let this be the bridge that brings us together, and let us work together toward justice and accountability,” Eagleson said.

Lawyers for relatives of 9/11 victims say that a group of extremist religious leaders in Saudi Arabia gained influence in the Saudi government and aided the 9/11 hijackers who flew planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Fifteen of the 19 Sept. 11 attackers were Saudis.

Attorneys Michael Kellogg and Gregory G. Rapawy, arguing on behalf of Saudi Arabia, said plaintiffs in the lawsuits had failed to generate sufficient evidence over the last four years of discovery to enable their claims to move forward.

Attorney Gavin Simpson, arguing for the plaintiffs, said there was “substantial evidence, indeed compelling evidence” that a militant network of individuals in the United States teamed up with Saudi officials to aid hijackers who came to the United States in early 2000 to prepare for the attacks.

He showed the judge video clips of a Feb. 17, 2000, “welcome party” in California for two of the hijackers, saying 29 individuals were there who later helped the pair to settle in America and prepare for the attacks.

“The examples are abundant, your honor, of the support that was provided,” he said. “The purpose of this party was to welcome the hijackers.”

Earlier this month, 9/11 Justice called out President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump for not talking more about a video allegedly showing a Saudi official “casing” the U.S. Capitol as the terror attacks were being planned.

The group said it was disappointed that Biden, Trump and lawmakers have not addressed what the group says are “explosive” revelations. In addition, 9/11 Justice is urging Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to provide “justice and closure” to families of victims.

Video footage obtained by news outlets including CBS and NewsNation shows a group of men driving around a neighborhood and sometimes pointing out landmarks like the White House, the Washington Monument and the Capitol building.

Investigators working with 9/11 Families United sent NewsNation the video after a judge released it by court order as part of a civil lawsuit filed by victims’ families that seeks to hold Saudi Arabia liable for any role it had in the attacks.

Saudi government officials maintain the video is nothing more than a tourist video of Washington, D.C. Former CIA and FBI official Phil Mudd said in a previous appearance on NewsNation’s “CUOMO” that while the video is significant, it is not necessarily evidence.

Families of those who died during 9/11, however, say the video is “damning.”

The video was included as evidence in the lawsuit against Saudi Arabia.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.