Palestinian Authority funneled $160 million to terrorists in 2025 – report

Despite claims it ended “pay-to-slay” program a year ago, Palestinian Authority funneled roughly half a billion shekels to jailed terrorists and families of slain terrorists last year.

By World Israel News Staff

The Palestinian Authority funneled nearly half a billion shekels to jailed terrorists and the families of slain terrorists last year, despite Ramallah’s claims that it ended its controversial “pay-to-slay” program.

A report published by The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday cited information disclosed during an Israeli Cabinet meeting recently, according to which the Palestinian Authority transferred 487 million shekels ($158 million) last year to terrorists held in Israeli prisons and to the families of terrorists killed during attacks on Israel.

The majority of those funds, some 395 million shekels ($128 million), were transferred to the accounts of terrorists held in Israeli prisons, while 92 million shekels ($30 million) were distributed to the families of slain terrorists.

In addition, the Palestinian Authority last year provided grant money to Palestinian terrorists released by Israel as part of the three hostage deals with Hamas since October 7, 2023.

The information revealed to Israeli government ministers follows other recent revelations that the Palestinian Authority has violated its pledge to end its policy of providing financial support to terrorists and terrorists’ families.

In 2025, the Trump administration warned Ramallah that the US would impose sanctions on the Palestinian Authority’s senior leadership if the PA continues to make payments to jailed terrorists and the families of slain terrorists.

In response to pressure from the US, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas sacked his finance minister, blaming him for continuing the “pay-to-slay” payments despite the PA ostensibly ending the program.

According to the Post report, however, Israeli ministers were informed recently that the new PA finance minister has continued his predecessor’s policy of quietly maintaining the “pay-to-slay” program.

“All the Palestinian Authority’s theatrics will not help, Abu Mazen himself has said that the Authority will continue paying terrorists’ families down to the last shekel,” Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter said.