U.S. Report to Congress: Palestinian Authority Sent $126 Million to Terrorists in 2025

The U.S. Department of State determined in a report to Congress that the Palestinian Authority continued throughout 2025 to provide payments and benefits to convicted terrorists and their families, in violation of the Taylor Force Act. The report draws in part on information submitted by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar.

According to the findings, the Palestinian Authority transferred a total of $156 million (NIS 488.5 million) in 2025. Of that, $126 million (NIS 395.9 million) went to convicted terrorists and prisoners released from Israeli jails, while $30 million (NIS 92.6 million) was paid to families of attackers killed while carrying out acts of terror.

The report states that multiple mechanisms were used to distribute the funds. It highlights the role of a welfare body, the Palestinian National Economic Empowerment Institution (PNEEI), through which some payments were channeled.

It also cites documented incidents on the ground. “In December 2025, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement referring to documentation from October showing people waiting at Palestinian Authority post offices to receive payments,” the report notes, adding that this method is a standard channel within the system. Similar distributions were documented in October 2025 by Palestinian Media Watch.

According to the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, the payments continued despite internal criticism, including protests among some released prisoners.

The report concludes that, despite ongoing international pressure and U.S. legislation, the Palestinian Authority’s payment system has remained in place, operating through multiple channels in recent years.