Freed terrorists are millionaires, thanks to years of ‘pay-for-slay’

Palestinian Media Watch says the PA spent over $70 million rewarding convicted murderers.

By World Israel News Staff

Roughly 160 of the 250 convicted Palestinian terrorists freed in early October as part of a ceasefire and hostage deal left Israeli prisons with millions of shekels in their bank accounts, thanks to the Palestinian Authority’s “pay-for-slay” program, which provides monthly stipends to those imprisoned for terror offenses.

According to a bombshell report from watchdog group Palestinian Media Watch (PMW), the PA paid out at least $70 million to the 250 terrorists, all of whom were convicted of attacks and murders of Israelis — most during the Second Intifada in the early 2000s.

PMW published detailed information about individual prisoners who benefited from the program, including Iyad Abu al-Rub, a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander from Jenin. Al-Rub helped plan and provided material support for least three suicide bombings that killed 13 Israelis. During his incarceration, he received over 1.6 million shekels (about $318,000) from the PA.

Brothers Mohammed and Abdul Jawad Shamasneh, who murdered four Israelis, including two teenagers and an IDF soldier, were collectively paid 1.83 million shekels (approximately $550,000).

Riyad al-Amour, convicted for his role in the murder of nine Israelis, including a soldier, received 1.28 million shekels ($384,000), while his accomplice Ismail Hamdan was paid 1.21 million shekels ($363,000).

Israel has long cited the pay-for-slay scheme as proof of the Palestinian Authority’s ongoing support for terrorism. The policy not only compensates convicted terrorists but also provides financial benefits to their families.

Investigations have found that some of these funds originate from international aid given to the PA by foreign governments.

Despite promising world leaders that he would discontinue the program, PA President Mahmoud Abbas has repeatedly assured his constituents that the payments will continue.

In February 2025, Abbas reaffirmed his commitment to the practice, declaring that the PA would keep paying stipends to terrorists and their families “even if we have only one cent left,” calling the program a top national priority.