The Palestinian Authority paid stipends to security prisoners and to families of “martyrs” at PA post offices on Saturday morning, despite publicly claiming to have ended the practice, according to a new report by Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) director Itamar Marcus on Sunday.
“Yesterday, Saturday, Oct. 25, at 10:00 a.m., the PA Post Offices paid terrorists’ salaries and stipends to families of terrorist ‘Martyrs,’” Marcus wrote, adding that there was “no official announcement” and that payments were delayed so “everyone, even the terrorists’ families, would think that the program had ended.”
PMW published screenshots of social media conversations among recipients discussing the amounts deposited, including one exchange stating, “50% of the salaries and [those making less than 2,000 received] the full amount. FYI, the salary is for June.” PMW said the percentage matched the partial salaries the PA paid civil servants earlier this month due to its fiscal crisis.
The watchdog outlined a two-week timeline in which families of prisoners and those killed in attacks pressed the PA for updates, held small demonstrations in Ramallah on October 20, and were told informally by post-office staff that payments would be made on Saturday without an official statement. On the morning of October 25, local Telegram channels began reporting that “the salaries of the prisoners, the wounded, and the Martyrs have arrived at the post office,” and PMW said that payments proceeded “as usual” through the day.
PMW argued that the PA could not announce the transfers because it had assured donors it had ended so-called “pay for slay.” Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas signed a decree in February revoking the system of payments to families of prisoners and those killed or wounded in attacks, according to multiple reports at the time.
Europe 'welcomes the reforms'
European officials later welcomed what they described as reforms. In a September 25 communiqué, the French Foreign Ministry said, “We welcome the reforms already underway by the Palestinian Authority, including: the abrogation of the prisoners’ payment system, that is now effective.”
At the same time, the European Commission pledged significant budgetary support to the PA this year. On June 23, Brussels announced €202 million in assistance for UNRWA and the PA, including “€150 million… to support the Palestinian Authority in ensuring the delivery of key public services, including the payment of salaries of teachers, civil servants, and healthcare workers,” tied to a reform agenda.
PMW contends that such funding is fungible and effectively frees up other PA resources to maintain stipends to prisoners and “martyrs,” a claim PMW has repeated in a series of reports documenting payments through PA post offices in recent months.
In its analysis on Sunday, PMW said recipients reported receiving 50% of the monthly stipend and that the remaining half “is not canceled but is owed,” mirroring how the PA has been accruing arrears to public employees during the broader fiscal crunch. The watchdog estimates the PA historically spent more than $30 million per month on these payments before the Gaza war, and says the number of eligible recipients has since grown. The Jerusalem Post could not independently verify the transfers.
The PA has long argued that payments are part of a social welfare framework for prisoners and bereaved families, while Israel and many Western lawmakers say the policy incentivizes terrorism. The issue remains the focus of litigation and diplomatic pressure: last week, families of slain and injured Americans filed a lawsuit in the United States accusing the Palestine Liberation Organization of operating a “pay for slay” scheme that rewards terrorism.
The PA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on PMW’s latest claims.