Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority (PA), has signed a decree that officially abolishes the controversial ‘pay for slay’ system, which rewarded deceased and incarcerated Palestinian terrorists and their families with payments. The system has been replaced with a needs-based welfare stipend system, according to Palestinian officials.
This significant policy shift was under discussion during the Biden government, but the Palestinians decided they could hold off on implementing it until the much firmer Trump administration assumed office. Senior Palestinian leaders briefed Trump’s team about this reform during the transition period, hoping to curry favor with the America First leader.
Sources claim the announcement of the ‘pay for slay’ system’s abolition was delayed after President Trump’s public statements about a U.S. takeover of the Gaza Strip caused quiet in the Arab world. Still, Abbas deciding to move forward with it regardless shows his combative approach is not derailing regional reforms.
Previously, Abbas cut ties with the first Trump administration after Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2017. However, this only led to the Palestinians being left out of the Trump-brokered Abraham Accords. Abbas has reportedly recognized he must take a more conciliatory approach towards Trump’s second administration.
Raheem Kassam, Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse, has described the end of ‘pay for slay’ as an “extraordinary W for the Trump admin.”
This is an extraordinary W for the Trump admin.
I wrote about it as far back as 2012, when it was obvious that Western aid cash was being used to reward terrorism.
Now it’s finally over. https://t.co/elvhs5XNbA
— Raheem. (@RaheemKassam) February 10, 2025