Full Breakdown
Palestinian Authority Reinstates Pay-for-Slay Stipends Amid International Pressure
5/17/2026, 6:20:08 AM
Reinstatement of Prisoner Stipends
On Thursday, Israel’s Foreign Ministry announced that a Hebron court ruling restored the salary of a prisoner whose pay-for-slay stipend had been suspended, establishing a precedent for reinstating payments to 1,600 other prisoners. The ministry posted the ruling on X, citing Palestinian Media Watch.
Evolution of the Pay-for-Slay System
The pay-for-slay system, launched in the 2000s, provides stipends to Palestinians convicted of attacks on Israelis and to families of deceased attackers. The 2018 Taylor Force Act blocks U.S. aid to the PA until the stipends end. In 2023, President Mahmoud Abbas moved welfare payments to a needs-based model, yet the PA persists with the practice under new mechanisms.
Scale of Payments
A US State Department report for the fiscal year recorded $156 million paid to prisoners and families—$126 million to individuals convicted of terrorism, including those released from Israeli custody, and $30 million to families of deceased attackers. The report noted the PA had pledged $214 million in compensation but continued disbursements despite the shift to a needs-based system.
Official Statements & Responses
Israel’s Foreign Ministry described the Hebron court decision as establishing a precedent for restoring salaries to 1,600 prisoners, arguing that the PA has not ended the stipend program. The US State Department said the PA still operates a compensation system that supports terrorism through new mechanisms and under a different name. At the Fatah conference, President Abbas asserted that the tax revenues withheld by Israel are needed to cover salaries for employees, prisoners and other expenses.
Criticism & Opposition
Israel argues the stipends incentivize terrorism and uses the payments to justify withholding tax revenues it collects for the PA. The United States, via Taylor Force Act, blocks aid until the PA ends the program, echoing the State Department’s label of the payments as “compensation in support of terrorism.” Governments see the practice as a barrier to diplomatic and economic engagement.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While President Abbas has publicly claimed the stipend system was abolished, the Hebron court ruling and State Department data show payments continue. The PA’s shift to a needs-based welfare model has not halted disbursements to prisoners or families, creating a gap between official rhetoric and documented practice. No independent audit of the current mechanisms has been released, and the number of beneficiaries under new terminology remains unknown.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This, PMW explained, created a legal precedent for restoring the salaries of 1,600 more prisoners.” — Israel's Foreign Ministry
- “The lawyer countered that Pay-for-Slay is guaranteed under PA law, which was accepted by the court.” — Lawyer, Hebron's Radio Alam
- “The PA continues to provide a system of compensation in support of terrorism through new mechanisms and under a different name,” — US State Department
- “We need this money to pay employees, prisoners, etc., as well as other expenses,” — Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority
