Despite the Palestinian Authority (PA)’s ongoing claims that it has stopped rewarding imprisoned terrorists and the families of “Martyrs,” Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) can report that on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 10:00 AM, the PA post offices paid terrorists’ salaries and stipends to families of terrorist “Martyrs.”

Because the PA has told the donor countries that it stopped the Pay-for-Slay program, the PA made no official announcements and it delayed the payments so that everyone, even the terrorists’ families, would think that the program had ended.

On Saturday, however, the PA did pay the salaries.

This was one of the conversations between “Pay-for-Slay” recipients on social media following the payment:

Good evening, everyone, for those whose salaries are above 5,000 [shekels], how much did they send you today as a percentage of the payment?

[Answer 1]: “3,000.”

[Answer 2]: “50% of the salaries and [those making less than 2,000 received] the full amount. FYI, the salary is for June.”

The 50% payment is the same percentage the PA had paid all its employees earlier this month. Due to its financial crisis, since 2019, the PA has not paid full salaries to its employees.

This payment did not come as quickly or as easily for the terrorists’ families as it usually does. The long delay in paying the salaries likely occurred because many donor countries are waiting every month to see if the PA would stick to its promises and would stop rewarding terror.

Here is the timeline for a rollercoaster two weeks in the PA areas: 

Sun Oct. 12

PA pays salaries to its employees. As stated, due to the financial crisis, the PA paid only 50% of the employees’ salaries, with a minimum of 2,000 shekels. The salaries are for July — two months late.

Mon Oct. 13

Families of “Martyrs” and terrorist prisoners expect and are waiting for salaries, which are usually paid in the post offices the following day, but there is no announcement.

Tues-Wed Oct. 14 -15

Families of terrorists start criticizing the PA.

Thurs Oct. 16

Families of “Martyrs” in Jordan and Syria receive their monthly payments.

The PA is silent about payments to terrorists’ families in the PA areas.

Mon Oct. 20

Small demonstrations are held against the PA in Ramallah by families of terrorists. One threatens violence: “Either we live with honor, or we die with honor.”

Tues Oct. 21

Demonstrations are held in all major cities against the PA.

Wed Oct. 22

Families of “Martyrs” in Lebanon receive their monthly payments.

The PA’s silence through official sources creates the impression that it stopped “Pay-for-Slay” and many Palestinians assume the program has ceased. One demands payment: “It’s either us or us” — meaning the PA has no choice but to pay them.

Thurs Oct. 23

Post office workers tell people unofficially that salaries will be paid on Saturday: “Salaries will be paid but there will be no official announcement.” Even though post offices are usually closed on Saturday, the PA will send special staff.

Fri October 24

11:23 AM: An announcement is issued quoting a private message by a Commission of Prisoners official, who would not make a public announcement himself: “Good morning. Tomorrow, Saturday, the prisoners’ salaries will be paid at the post office after 10:00 AM. Employees of the Prisoners’ Affairs Authority will also be on duty to facilitate the distribution of salaries. Have a blessed Friday.”

2:35 PM: A second report quoting an official in the PA-funded Prisoners’ Club is issued: “Salaries of families of Martyrs, injured, and prisoners will be paid tomorrow Saturday in the post offices.”

Sat Oct. 25

8:12 AM: First reports that salaries are paid. “The salaries of the prisoners, the wounded, and the Martyrs have arrived at the post office” [Qabatiya Around the Clock, Telegram channel, Oct. 25, 2025].

During the day, all salaries are paid as usual in all the post offices. Families report that they were paid 50% of full salary, just like the employees.

PMW comment

The remaining 50% is not canceled but is owed. The PA has pledged that when it has enough money, it will pay back all employees and terrorist prisoners. The monthly PA pay slips include a column showing the amount owed to the employee.

The Palestinian Authority could not publicly announce that it was paying the salaries, since it had already deceived donor countries by claiming on September 1, 2025, that the program had officially ended.

On September 25, 2025, the French Foreign Ministry announced that it believed the PA’s claim: “We welcome the reforms already underway by the PA, including: The abrogation of the prisoners’ payment system, that is now effective.” [emphasis added]

The PA’s silence may also have been an attempt to trigger anti-PA demonstrations so they could claim to the donors that they stopped the program.

The EU, on June 23, 2025, pledged €150 million to the PA to help it pay salaries.

€150 million have been allocated to support the Palestinian Authority in ensuring the delivery of key public services, including the payment of salaries of teachers, civil servants, and healthcare workers. The financial support is linked to the implementation of the reform agenda.

[EU Commission for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf]

Given the fungible nature of funding to the PA, when that pledge is paid by the EU, the PA will simply use it to pay the EU-acceptable salaries and will then have enough non-EU money left to pay terrorists their backpay.

If the EU wants to stop being a terror facilitator, Palestinian Media Watch urges the EU to suspend the transfer of all payments until the PA stops funding terror.

The PA pays terrorists more than $30 million/month based on its last published budget, which was before the Gaza War. Since then, the number of terrorist prisoners has more than doubled from 4,500 to 9,100, and there are thousands of new families of terrorist “Martyrs.”

The PA is waiting anxiously for that European money to cover its EU-acceptable expenses, so it has enough money to pay these terror rewards as soon as possible. The EU, which has staked its diplomatic reputation on the PA’s fraudulent claims of ending Pay-for-Slay, must now stand firm as long as the PA continues rewarding terrorists.

The author is the Founder and Director of Palestinian Media Watch, where a version of this article first appeared.