It is never wise to believe any statement issued in English by Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas and his government in Ramallah.
Despite having recently announced to the world that he was going to cancel monthly rents to terrorists, Abbas (Abu Mazen) swiftly clarified matters last week — in Arabic — at a meeting of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council.
(In addition to serving as head of the Palestinian Authority, Abbas also heads the government’s ruling Fatah faction, as well as the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).)
Abbas confirmed at the Fatah Revolutionary Council meeting what most Israelis already knew: terrorists will continue to receive their pay-for-slay salaries, but simply through a different channel.
Abu Mazen clarified: “Even if we only have one last penny left – it will be for the prisoners and the martyrs – as it was before.”
Despite having let the world know that he was going to cancel monthly rents to terrorists, Abu Mazen clarifies matters at a meeting of Fatah's… pic.twitter.com/IOLtlz7CBe
— Regavim (@RegavimEng) February 23, 2025
“We repeat and emphasize that we are proud of the sacrifice of the martyrs,” Abbas said.
“Even if we only have one cent left, it will go to the prisoners and martyrs. They must receive everything as in the past, for they are more precious than all of us put together.”
Abbas immediately took steps, however, to ensure his words would not be conveyed to the Trump Administration. Shortly after the meeting was broadcast on “Palestine TV”, the recording was removed from the PATV network. However, the full recording was uploaded by Israeli Arab journalist Khaled Abu Toameh, and made available by the Israeli Regavim organization as well as by the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya news network.
Last Thursday, only a day after the Trump Administration announced the suspension of funding for the Palestinian Authority’s security forces, Fatah terrorists stood shoulder to shoulder with Hamas terrorists at a gruesome ceremony in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis that marked the handover to Israel of the bodies of four hostages.
Official Telegram channels of the Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades confirmed their members’ presence at the event, with photos also revealing operatives from the military wings of Hamas, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and the lesser-known Al-Ahrar movement in Gaza.
Gazan media highlighted this multi-group participation as “an expression of internal Gazan unity.”
The importance of this public statement of solidarity should not be underestimated.
“On October 7th 2023, and every day since, the Palestinian Authority has publicly and enthusiastically expressed its approval, support and partnership with the butchers of Hamas. The participation of Fatah, the ruling party of the Palestinian Authority, in the macabre celebration of the murder of women, infants and elderly Jews at the hands of Hamas, is just one more expression of the Palestinian Authority’s true colors,” the Regavim organization emphasized.
“The Palestinian Authority Security Forces – trained and armed by the United States and other well-meaning countries- are, and always have been, terror networks committed to the murder if Jews and the eradication of the Jewish State. They are indistinguishable from Hamas – and they proudly declare their identification with Hamas’ objectives and methods.
“Over the past few days, The Palestinian Authority has provided ample evidence demonstrating that Hamas and the PA are essentially indistinguishable – united in their vision, their actions and their glorifiation of terror. The fact that Abu Mazen clarified he has no intention to stop the ‘pay-for-slay’ policy, is further confirmation of that,” the organization warned.
