The US State Department recently accused the Palestinian Authority of paying over $200 million to families of terrorists through 2025, even after President Mahmoud Abbas announced the end of the “pay for murder” program, which financially rewarded those involved in attacks against Israelis
This allegation, revealed in a non-public report submitted to the US Congress and obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, suggests that the payments were backed by a new front, shifting responsibility to an economic empowerment foundation that operates as a welfare organization.
The program, officially called the Martyrs’ Fund, has been criticized for years for promoting violence, as the amounts increase according to the severity of the acts committed, according to Israeli intelligence estimates ranging from US$144 million in 2024 to US$214 million in 2025.
In February 2025, Abbas signed an executive order to end the old system and replace it with one based solely on the financial needs of families, a move seen as a gesture to improve relations with the Trump administration, which conditioned American aid on the elimination of these rewards.
The Palestinian Authority argues that the payments are a form of social support for prisoners and families affected by the conflict, and not an incentive for terrorism, as explained by analyses such as those from the Brookings Institution, which highlight how the discourse surrounding the issue is distorted and ignores the context of the Israeli occupation that impacts thousands of Palestinian lives.
However, Israeli sources, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and monitoring groups such as Palestinian Media Watch, have stated that funds still flow through alternative channels, such as the Palestinian postal system, keeping the program active despite the announced reforms.
The Trump administration initially reacted specifically to the promise of reform, but in July 2025 imposed evaluations against Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization officials, accusing them of undermining peace by supporting terrorism and internationalizing the conflict through tribunals such as the International Criminal Court.
On the Palestinian side, Hamas condemned the changes, portraying them as an abandonment of prisoners and martyrs at a critical moment in the conflict.
In September, Palestinian Authority documents indicated that the old system had been dismantled and a new social assistance program was in operation, although the US showed little interest in verifying this directly, leading the Palestinians to hire an international auditing firm to verify the changes.
This controversy reflects broader problems in the Middle East, where American laws like the Taylor Force Act prohibit aid to the Palestinian Authority as long as payments persist, consuming about 8% of the annual Palestinian budget and hindering efforts toward a two-state solution.
Critics argue that the program perpetuates violence, while proponents defend humanitarian assistance in a context of inequality and prolonged conflict.
Published in 02/01/2026 06h29
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.
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