PA hides UAE condemnation of missiles that murdered Palestinian women

The PA continues to silently support Iranian missiles targeting Israeli civilians, even when Palestinians are murdered.

By Itamar Marcus, Palestinian Media Watch

After the death of three Palestinian women from an Iranian missile attack against Israel, UAE leader Abdullah bin Zayed called PA leader Hussein Al-Sheikh and “strongly condemned the unprovoked and terrorist Iranian missile attack” and then expressed condolences.

When the official PA news agency WAFA reported on the phone call, it reported the condolences but ignored the UAE’s condemnation of the Iranian missile attack against Israel.

The PA continues to silently support Iranian missiles targeting Israeli civilians, even when Palestinians are murdered, and does not want Palestinians to know that the UAE condemned the attack.

UAE report on conversation:

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, in a phone call with Hussein Al Sheikh, Vice President of the State of Palestine, strongly condemned the unprovoked and terrorist Iranian missile attack targeting the West Bank, which resulted in several civilian casualties and injuries.

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan extended his sincere condolences to the Palestinian people over the victims of these terrorist attacks, and expressed his wishes for the swift recovery of all those injured.”

[Emirates News Agency, March 19, 2026]

PA report on the conversation:

Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh received a phone call this morning from the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who offered his condolences to the families of the slain Palestinian women who were killed yesterday in Hebron Governorate by rocket shrapnel.”

[WAFA, official PA news agency, March 19, 2026]

Instead of openly condemning the attack that murdered 4 Palestinians, the PA decided instead to honor at least 3 of the 4 women by giving them a “military funeral.”

The official PA news agency WAFA reported on the death of the women as “Martyrs” by “falling missile fragments”, but left out that it was an Iranian missile:

“This afternoon, Thursday, [March 19, 2026,] masses of our people accompanied to burial the three (a fourth died later -Ed.) female Martyrs who ascended to Heaven because of missile fragments falling in the town of Beit Awwa, west of Hebron (refers to Iranian missile attack during the Israel-Iran War; see note below -Ed.). This was with popular and official participation, and with a military ceremony.”

[WAFA, official PA news agency, March 19, 2026]

Why would the Palestinian Authority give women murdered in a beauty parlor by an Iranian missile, a military funeral?

The PA has condemned Iran’s missile fire only at the Gulf states and supports Iranian missile fire at Israel.

Could it be that the PA, therefore, sees these women killed by Iranian missiles as equivalent to soldiers who died from friendly fire in battle?

Therefore, they deserve a military funeral.

One Fatah official went even further, claiming it was an Israeli interceptor missile that led to their death. Following PA policy, he did not mention the Iranian missile, as if deliberately leaving it vague for listeners to conclude it was Israel’s fault.

This narrative would only further justify the PA bestowing that special honor:

Fatah Yatta Branch Deputy Secretary Rateb Al-Jabbour:

“This is a heavy incident – or disaster – that has befallen this village, the village of Beit Awwa west of Dura, Hebron, as a result of an Israeli air defense systems missile landing, which of course led to the Martyrdom of 4 young women.”

[Fatah-run Awdah TV, Facebook page, March 19, 2026]