Report: Palestinian Authority Kept Paying Terrorists Released in Hostage Deals

Israel Police said Wednesday afternoon that forces from the Defense Ministry’s National Headquarters for Economic Counterterrorism and the Jerusalem District’s Central Unit raided the homes of terrorists and family members of terrorists released in hostage deals who continued to receive money from the Palestinian Authority for the acts of terrorism they carried out.

The operation was carried out under seizure orders issued by Defense Minister Israel Katz against the reward payments made by the Palestinian Authority to terrorists and their family members. Property, cash, and vehicles belonging to terrorists were seized.

The terrorists whose homes were targeted included:

- Muhammad Abd al-Rahman Abad: who was involved in an attempted suicide bombing in Jerusalem in 2002.

- Ahed Faiz Ali al-Natsheh: a Hamas operative who was involved in planning the explosion of a car bomb in the parking lot of an apartment building in Pisgat Ze’ev in 2001, as well as planning the attack at Jerusalem’s Clal Center, in which two police officers and 10 civilians were injured.

During the operation, forces raided the homes and seized property and cash worth hundreds of thousands of shekels, including five vehicles, approximately 96,000 shekels, and gold jewelry.

It was reported that the sanctions were imposed following a recommendation from the National Headquarters for Economic Counterterrorism and in cooperation with the Shin Bet and police, as part of the broader economic campaign being waged by Israel’s security establishment against terrorist organizations, their funding sources, and payment mechanisms for terrorists and their family members.