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Palestinian Authority Official: ‘Heroes’ Welcome’ Planned for Released Terrorists

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appoints Mohammad Mustafa as prime minister of the Palestinian Authority (PA), in Ramallah, in the West Bank March 14, 2024 in this handout image. Photo: Palestinian president office/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
With fanfare and fervor, a senior Fatah official has hailed the release of convicted terrorists as a moment of triumph for the “giants of loyalty, sacrifice, and resolve.”
As Fatah calls for the “freedom of all our heroic prisoners,” the celebration leaves little doubt that Fatah sees these terrorist murderers not as criminals, but as champions.
Contrary to the pro-peace image it is trying to transmit, the Palestinian Authority (PA) is showing its great support for the terrorist prisoners being released in the exchange deal between Israel and Hamas.
Right after the deal was signed, the PA’s Governor of Tulkarem announced that all terrorists would be given “a heroes’ welcome”:
Tulkarem District Governor Abdallah Kmeil: “[In the ceasefire deal] 296 prisoners [i.e., terrorists] who were sentenced to life [will be released] … Thousands of blessings to the prisoners’ relatives …
Undoubtedly, we will accord them a heroes’ welcome, and they deserve to be greeted and we have a plan to welcome everyone. In the Tulkarem district we will greet them at Tulkarem district headquarters.” [emphasis added]
[PA Tulkarem District Governorate, Facebook page, Jan. 18, 2025]
Senior Fatah official Tawfiq Tirawi celebrated the release of terrorists and murderers, glorifying them as “the giants of loyalty, sacrifice, and resolve,” and deserving of “blessings”:
Posted text: “[Israel] surrendered to a prisoner exchange deal due to our people’s mighty resolve… This led to the collective freedom of thousands of prisoners, including hundreds who were given life sentences and heavy sentences, some of whom had even served more than 40 years in prison.
Despite the pain, wounds, loss, and destruction, this freedom of the giants of loyalty, sacrifice, and resolve is worthy of joy, despite the great pain.
These mighty released prisoners deserve blessings … The Palestinian people will not stop its struggle.” [emphasis added]
[Fatah Central Committee member Tawfiq Tirawi, Facebook page, Jan. 25, 2025]
The Revolutionary Council of PA Chairman Abbas’ Fatah Movement issued a statement “sharing in the joy” over the release of the “heroic” terrorist prisoners and vowed to continue “the struggle through all legal means” — a Palestinian term that endorses and promotes the use of terror against Israel:
Posted text:“The Fatah Revolutionary Council shares in the joy of our people and the families of the prisoners who were released and blesses them.
The Revolutionary Council emphasizes our people’s insistence on the freedom of all our heroic prisoners from the occupation’s prisons, the continuation of our national struggle through all legal means to stop the Israeli aggression…” [emphasis added]
[Fatah Commission of Information and Culture, Facebook page, Jan. 25, 2025]
Many of the released terrorists who have murdered the largest number of Israelis have been expelled to foreign countries.
But that did not stop Director of PLO Commission of Prisoners’ Affairs Qadura Fares from traveling to Egypt to honor the terrorist murderers. He smilingly posed with them for pictures, all wearing scarves featuring the PA map of “Palestine” that erases Israel:
Posted text: “Pictures from the reception by Director of [PLO] Commission of Prisoners’ [Affairs] Qadura Fares for prisoners who were released in the first round of the exchange process in Cairo”
[PLO Commission of Prisoners’ Affairs, Facebook page, Jan. 26, 2025]
Meeting with the French consul earlier, Fares expressed his satisfaction with Hamas terrorists successful holding of the Israeli hostages.
Fares stated his belief that in later stages of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas “symbols and leaders of the prisoners’ movement” such as Marwan Barghouti who planned terror attacks in which five Israelis were murdered, will be released:
Fares explained to [French Consul General in Jerusalem] Nicolas [Kassianides] that Israel … was forced to finalize the deal to bring back the Israeli prisoners [sic., hostages], whom the Palestinian resistance factions succeeded in holding for more than 15 months, and whom the occupation regime was unable to bring back despite the war of annihilation whose price we are still paying until today…
Fares emphasized that the second round [of the ceasefire] after the first six weeks of the exchange process at this stage, which will take place this Saturday evening or in the early morning hours of Sunday, will be different because it will include prisoners [i.e., terrorists] who were sentenced to life imprisonment or those who have been sentenced to long-term punishment, and this will pave the way for additional rounds in which symbols and leaders of the prisoners’ movement will be released, foremost among them prisoner leader Marwan Barghouti [i.e., terrorist, orchestrated three attacks in which 5 were murdered]. [emphasis added]
[PLO Commission of Prisoners’ Affairs website, Jan. 23, 2025]
Abbas’ advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash likewise conveyed the “joy” for the release:
Al-Habbash: “The entire Palestinian nation is experiencing mixed emotions these days. Joy for the release of the prisoners, this batch of prisoners, because every prisoner that is released from the occupation’s prisons is an achievement for us as Palestinians, as a people, as a cause, as a struggle, and as a national project.”
[YouTube channel, Jan. 25, 2025]
Among the PA officials who have rejoiced over the release of terrorists is the PA’s governor of Ramallah, Laila Ghannam, who showed her joy and support by visiting terrorists in the hospital as Palestinian Media Watch exposed last month.
Ghannam’s directorate further posted statements by Ghannam, praising released terrorists who served life sentences as “heroes” and “symbols of resolve and defiance”:
Posted text: “Upon receiving these released heroes, Ghannam emphasized that the prisoners are symbols of the struggle and resolve of the Palestinian people in the face of the cruelty of the occupation [i.e., Israel], and added that loyalty to them is a national and moral duty that our people will never neglect…
She added: ‘These prisoners who spent decades behind the bars of the occupation are a symbol of resolve and defiance, for despite their long suffering, their high morale is a message of hope to our people that freedom will arrive without a doubt.‘” [emphasis added]
[Ramallah and El-Bireh Governorate, Facebook page, Jan. 25, 2025]
The author is a senior analyst at Palestinian Media Watch, where a version of this article was originally published.
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Germany’s Scholz Rebukes Vance, Defends Europe’s Stance on Hate Speech and Far Right

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks to the media after he met former prisoners following the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West in decades, at the military area of Cologne Bonn Airport in Cologne, Germany, August 1, 2024. Photo: Christoph Reichwein/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivered a strong rebuke on Saturday to US Vice President JD Vance’s attack on Europe’s stance toward hate speech and the far right, saying it was not right for others to tell Germany and Europe what to do.
Vance lambasted European leaders on Friday, the first day of the Munich Security Conference, accusing them of censoring free speech and criticizing German mainstream parties’ “firewall” against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
“That is not appropriate, especially not among friends and allies. We firmly reject that,” Scholz told the conference on Saturday, adding there were “good reasons” not to work with the AfD.
The anti-immigration party, currently polling at around 20% ahead of Germany’s February 23 national election, has pariah status among other major German parties in a country with a taboo about ultranationalist politics because of its Nazi past.
“Never again fascism, never again racism, never again aggressive war. That is why an overwhelming majority in our country opposes anyone who glorifies or justifies criminal National Socialism,” Scholz said, referring to the ideology of Adolf Hitler’s 1933-45 Nazi regime.
Vance met on Friday with the leader of AfD, after endorsing the party as a political partner — a stance Berlin dismissed as unwelcome election interference.
Referring more broadly to Vance’s criticism of Europe’s curtailing of hate speech, which he has likened to censorship, Scholz said: “Today’s democracies in Germany and Europe are founded on the historic awareness and realization that democracies can be destroyed by radical anti-democrats.
“And this is why we’ve created institutions that ensure that our democracies can defend themselves against their enemies, and rules that do not restrict or limit our freedom but protect it.”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot added his voice to the defense of Europe’s stance on hate speech.
“No one is required to adopt our model but no one can impose theirs on us,” Barrot said on X from Munich. “Freedom of speech is guaranteed in Europe.”
UKRAINE
The prospect of talks to end the Ukraine-Russia war had been expected to dominate the annual Munich conference after a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin this week, but Vance barely mentioned Russia or Ukraine in his speech to the gathering on Friday.
Instead, he said the threat to Europe that worried him most was not Russia or China but what he called a retreat from fundamental values of protecting free speech – as well as immigration, which he said was “out of control” in Europe.
Many conference delegates watched Vance’s speech in stunned silence. There was little applause as he delivered his remarks.
Asked by the panel moderator if he thought there was anything in Vance’s speech worth reflecting on, Scholz drew laughter and applause in the crowd when he responded, in a deadpan manner: “You mean all these very relevant discussions about Ukraine and security in Europe?”
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Trump Team to Start Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks in Saudi Arabia in Coming Days, Politico Reports

US Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) speaks on Day 1 of the Republican National Convention (RNC) at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US, July 15, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Mike Segar
Senior officials from US President Donald Trump’s administration will start peace talks with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Saudi Arabia in the coming days, Politico reported on Saturday, citing sources familiar with the plan.
US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Saudi Arabia, the report said. Special envoy for Ukraine-Russia talks, Keith Kellogg, will not be in attendance, according to the report.
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UN Peacekeeping Mission Deputy Commander Injured After Convoy Attacked in Beirut

FILE PHOTO: A UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL) vehicle is seen next to piled up debris at Beirut’s port, Lebanon October 23, 2020. Photo: REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
The outgoing deputy force commander of the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL) in Lebanon was injured on Friday after a convoy taking peacekeepers to Beirut airport was “violently attacked,” UNIFIL said.
The mission demanded a full and immediate investigation by Lebanese authorities and for all perpetrators to be brought to justice, it said in a statement.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack on Saturday, saying that security forces would not tolerate anyone who tries to destabilize the country, according to a statement from his office.
The French government also condemned the attack.
“France calls on the Lebanese security forces to guarantee the security of blue-helmet peacekeeping forces, and calls on Lebanon’s judicial authorities to shed all light on this unacceptable attack and to go after those responsible,” the French foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
Lebanon’s Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar called for an emergency meeting before noon on Saturday to discuss the security situation, Lebanese state news agency NNA reported.
“He affirmed the Lebanese government’s rejection of this assault that is considered a crime against UNIFIL forces,” NNA reported, citing the minister.
He also gave instructions to work on identifying the perpetrators and referring them to the relevant judicial authorities.
The minister told reporters on Saturday that more than 25 people had been detained for investigation over the attack.
The United States earlier condemned the attack. A State Department statement said the attack was carried out “reportedly by a group of Hezbollah supporters”, referring to the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon.
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