Hundreds of convicted Palestinian terrorists are walking free today—not just as unpunished murderers, but as wealthy men. Thanks to a long-standing Palestinian policy of rewarding terrorism, 316 of these released prisoners have been paid millions of shekels for their crimes against Israelis. While the families of their victims continue to suffer, these terrorists are celebrating their newfound wealth, courtesy of a system that pays for Jewish blood.
The PA’s Terrorist Payment Scheme
The latest report from Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) exposes the staggering sums the Palestinian Authority (PA) has funneled to these terrorists over their incarceration periods. These payments, often referred to as “pay-for-slay” salaries, are part of the PA’s long-standing policy of financially rewarding those who commit attacks against Israelis.
As part of a 42-day prisoner exchange deal, Israel has agreed to release 734 security prisoners in return for just 33 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Among those being freed, 200 were convicted murderers—terrorists responsible for the deaths of innocent Israeli civilians. Yet, rather than facing condemnation, these killers are being welcomed home as heroes and rewarded with millions in blood money.
One of the most notorious terrorists benefiting from this system is Mohammed al-Tous, a Fatah member and commander of a terror cell. Since his arrest in 1985, al-Tous has received 2.25 million shekels (roughly $625,000) in payments from the PA for his role in multiple deadly attacks, including:
- The 1985 bus attacks, which injured 16 passengers.
- The murder of Israelis Zalman Abolnik, Meir Ben Yair, and Michal Cohen.
But al-Tous is far from the only terrorist profiting from the PA’s pay-for-murder policy. Karim and Maher Younis, who murdered IDF soldier Avraham Bromberg in 1980, were each paid over 4 million shekels (about $1.1 million). After their release, they were personally honored by PA President Mahmoud Abbas, who reaffirmed his commitment to continue paying terrorists for their “sacrifices”.
Another example is Abdullah Barghouti, a Hamas terrorist who built the bombs used in multiple attacks, including the Sbarro pizzeria bombing in 2001, which murdered 15 people, including seven children. He has been paid over 1.5 million shekels ($420,000) while sitting in an Israeli prison. Even suicide bombers’ families receive salaries. The family of Ahmed al-Hanbali, who carried out a suicide attack in 2003, continues to receive thousands of shekels every month from the PA as a “reward” for his actions.
The PA’s “Martyrs Fund” and “Prisoners Fund” are codified into Palestinian law, ensuring that these payments increase with the severity of the attack. A convicted terrorist serving a few years receives a small stipend, but a convicted murderer gets a lifelong salary. If the terrorist is an Israeli Arab, the PA pays them double. These funds are drawn from international aid money, meaning that foreign governments are indirectly funding terrorism.
This is not just a moral disgrace—it is a direct incentive for more terrorism. When a terrorist knows that murdering Israelis will not only make them a “hero” but also secure a lifetime fortune for themselves and their families, the PA is actively encouraging the next massacre.
The PA’s policy of paying terrorists has been widely condemned as a direct incentive for further attacks. According to Israeli security sources, these payments are structured to increase with the severity of the crime:
- A convicted terrorist serving a few years receives a smaller stipend.
- A convicted murderer receives a salary for life.
- Additional payments are given to family members, creating a generational incentive for terrorism.
For years, the U.S. and Israel have demanded the PA stop these payments. However, Mahmoud Abbas has repeatedly refused, calling these terrorists “heroes” and vowing to continue paying their salaries, even at the cost of losing foreign aid.
Who Are These Released Terrorists?
According to Israel’s Ministry of Justice, the breakdown of the 734 released terrorists is as follows:
- 259 belong to Fatah (the PA’s ruling party).
- 296 belong to Hamas.
- 61 belong to Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
- 17 belong to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
- 9 belong to the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP).
- 3 are ISIS operatives.
- 89 have no known organizational affiliation.
This means that the vast majority of those being released belong to terror organizations that actively seek the destruction of Israel.
This prisoner release comes against the backdrop of Israel’s ongoing war on seven fronts, with Iran and its terror proxies—Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and the Houthis—waging relentless attacks on Israeli civilians.
Hamas, with direct Iranian funding, orchestrated the October 7th, 2023, massacre, which left 1,163 Israelis murdered, including women, children, and the elderly. Many of the terrorists involved in that massacre are now being celebrated by the PA and will receive lifelong payments for their crimes.
