Israel raids homes of terrorists’ families, seizes hundreds of thousands in PA funds
Police raided several homes, including that of Muhammad Abd al-Rahman Abad, who was involved in an attempted suicide attack in Jerusalem in 2002.
Israeli security forces carried out a substantial operation on Wednesday, targeting the residences of terrorists and their families who receive financial support from the Palestinian Authority (PA). The raids resulted in the confiscation of hundreds of thousands of shekels in cash, along with property and vehicles valued at nearly NIS 100,000.
Among those targeted were Muhammad Abd al-Rahman Abad, who was implicated in a failed suicide bombing attempt in Jerusalem in 2002, and Ahed Faiz Ali al-Natasha, a Hamas operative linked to a 2001 car bomb plot at a Pisgat Ze ev parking lot and a 2001 attack at Jerusalem's Clal Center, which injured ten civilians and two police officers.
The US State Department's recent report to Congress confirmed that the PA continues to fund these terrorists, despite previous commitments to end such "pay for slay" programs. According to the report, the PA disbursed a total of $156 million to terrorists and their families, with $126 million going to Palestinian terrorists—those released from Israeli custody and their families—while $30 million was allocated to the relatives of deceased Palestinian terrorists. The PA had previously pledged to provide $214 million in total payments.
Although the West Bank's welfare system underwent reforms in 2022, shifting payments towards a more needs-based model, the PA's funding practices remained unchanged. According to the State Department, these payments are now channeled through alternative mechanisms and under a different name. Sources cited include the Israeli government, open-source information, and non-governmental organizations.
The report underscores the ongoing challenges in curbing financial support for terrorism in the region, emphasizing the need for continued scrutiny and action from international bodies.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
