Israel Imposes Sanctions on PA 'Pay for Slay' Scheme

Israel has announced new sanctions against security prisoners receiving payouts from the Palestinian Authority. Alongside the confiscation of significant funds, the country aims to deter terrorism by reallocating seized assets to terror victims, amid ongoing financial measures against compensatory payments deemed to incentivize attacks on Israeli citizens.

Tel Aviv [Israel], February 25 (ANI/TPS): In a decisive move against the Palestinian Authority's controversial 'pay for slay' scheme, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced new sanctions on Tuesday. These target security prisoners and their families receiving compensation for past attacks, with raids leading to the seizure of hundreds of thousands of shekels, according to the Defense Ministry.

The Israeli government has also frozen NIS 470 million (USD 131 million) in PA funds, with plans to redirect these resources to support terror victims. Katz labeled the PA's payments as 'blood money' that only serves to 'fuel terrorism.' He stressed Israel's unwavering commitment to fighting terror through multifaceted approaches.

As financial assistance from the US is also halted, Israeli officials emphasized that the sanctuary provided by these funds for future terror activities must be dismantled. The PA spends approximately USD 279 million annually on such payments, with severe payouts for those involved in high-profile attacks, raising serious concerns about the incentives for individuals to engage in terrorism.