Deadly Surge: How the Palestinian Authority’s ‘Pay-for-Slay’ program fueled terror in 2024

These relentless assaults, fueled by the Palestinian Authority’s controversial "pay-for-slay" program, resulted in 27 deaths and 306 injuries, far outside the high-profile conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.

The attacks ranged from rock-throwing, which accounted for 3,668 incidents, to Molotov cocktails and firebombs, totaling 843 attacks. Terrorists fired on civilians 179 times, planted 526 bombs, and carried out nine stabbings and 12 ramming attacks. Among the most disturbing were 671 reported cases of laser devices being used to blind Israeli drivers, contributing to fatal crashes.

One of the most deadly attacks occurred last month, when three Palestinian terrorists ambushed a bus and civilian vehicles near the village of al-Funduq. The assault killed a police officer and two Israeli civilians, with Hamas claiming responsibility for the attack as a “heroic operation.” In another attack, a 16-year-old girl from al-Midya stabbed an Israeli civilian at a car wash, demonstrating the broad spectrum of violence faced by Israelis.

The "pay-for-slay" program, which financially rewards those who carry out terror attacks, is considered a significant motivator behind much of this violence. Security experts argue that without addressing this program, the likelihood of further violence will continue to rise. As long as the Palestinian Authority's incentive system remains in place, the toll on Israeli lives is expected to grow in 2025.