Palestinian Authority’s ‘Pay-for-Slay’ scheme is not over—Here’s how Abbas will continue funding terrorists

PA Lied: How Mahmoud Abbas Plans to Continue Paying Terrorists Through a Third Party

While Abbas claimed that the payments would stop, new developments reveal that the PA has no intention of fully ending the payments. Instead, the funding will continue through a third party to give the illusion that the PA is severing ties with terrorism while maintaining its financial support for those involved in acts of violence.

According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, the responsibility for the financial aid program was transferred from the Ministry of Social Development to the National Palestinian Economic Empowerment Institution. This shift is presumably designed to remove direct responsibility from the PA, allowing them to distance themselves from the program in response to growing pressure, particularly from Israel and the United States. However, the payments will still come from an entity operating under the PA’s control.

Furthermore, it was revealed that all families previously eligible for the financial aid program will remain included in the new social insurance scheme, which uses the same criteria for assistance as the previous system. The new entity, managed by a board of trustees appointed by Abbas, will oversee the payments to the families of prisoners, terrorists, martyrs, and wounded individuals.

This decision is not without controversy. Critics, including the militant group Hamas, condemned the move, accusing Abbas of abandoning the national cause and succumbing to Israeli and American pressure. Hamas described the cancellation as a betrayal, emphasizing that it is crucial to continue supporting the families of terrorists 'involved in the resistance.' The group insists that these payments are a vital part of preserving the Palestinian cause, especially during ongoing conflicts.

Ultimately, Abbas’s decree may give the illusion of change, but the reality is that the PA is continuing its financial support for terrorists under a different guise. Despite the shift in management, the program’s core function remains intact, perpetuating the cycle of violence and opposition to peace efforts in the region. The world will be watching closely to see if this move truly reflects a change in policy or if it is merely an attempt to placate international critics without altering the underlying situation.