PA to Modify ‘Pay to Slay’ Policy in Apparent Overture to Trump

Latest Developments

PA Reportedly Agrees to U.S. Demands to Modify Terror Incentives: Palestinian Authority (PA) officials have reportedly informed the Trump administration that the Palestinian government is prepared to reform its ‘pay-to-slay’ policy, which rewards terrorists in Israeli prisons and their families with monthly stipends. PA President Mahmoud Abbas reportedly signed a decree on February 10 canceling the longstanding legislation. However, according to unnamed sources cited by Israel’s Channel 12 News, the existing policy is simply being modified, with stipends paid according to financial need rather than the length of prisoner sentences, as is currently the case. An estimated 316 convicted terrorists released by Israel in return for the release of Israeli hostages during the ongoing ceasefire in Gaza will leave prison as millionaires as a result of the ‘pay-to-slay’ program.

PA Requests Taylor Force Act Repeal: In exchange for ending ‘pay-to-slay,’ the PA has reportedly asked the United States to repeal the Taylor Force Act — legislation adopted in 2018 during Trump’s first term in office named for an American veteran killed in a Palestinian terror attack two years earlier. The bill placed conditions on U.S. aid to the PA to prevent the funds from being used for terrorists’ stipends.

Deceptive PA Has Utilized ‘Pay-to-Slay’ Reform as Bargaining Chip in the Past: The PA reportedly began finalizing its ‘pay-to-slay’ reform during negotiations in 2024 with the outgoing Biden administration. Abbas ultimately declined to implement the policy change in 2024, instead preferring to use the reform as leverage with the incoming Trump administration. The PA president similarly promised ‘pay-to-slay’ reform in 2020 to try to convince then incoming President Joe Biden to revoke 1987 legislation designating the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) “and its affiliates” as terror groups. Additionally, in 2014 the PA attempted to create the impression that it was no longer rewarding the ‘pay-to-slay’ stipends by shifting responsibility for their distribution to the PLO’s Commission for Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs. However, the money was still being openly transferred to the PLO from the PA’s budget, and the PA remained the official body overseeing the stipend payments.

FDD Expert Response

“Abbas has remained committed to rewarding and incentivizing terrorism despite financial and political pressure from the United States and Israel. If these reports are true, and Abbas is willing to finally cease the abhorrent pay-to-slay programs, it will not only open up important revenue streams for Ramallah, but it may also help dissuade Palestinians from maiming and murdering Israelis. If Trump succeeds where multiple Democrat and Republican presidents have failed in the past, it would be a huge feather in Trump’s cap and could lead to other policy wins vis-à-vis the Palestinians.” — Enia Krivine, Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Network

“The Palestinian Authority is attempting to compromise with the Trump administration. However, it does not change the fact that the program will continue to run and will still incentivize terrorists to carry out acts of violence because their families will be taken care of by the Palestinian Authority. The Trump administration must be clear that the only acceptable solution is that the Palestinian Authority end the ‘Pay-to-Slay’ program.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

“Pay-to-slay reform is certainly welcome at face value and demonstrative of the Trump administration’s power in negotiations. However, American officials should be wary of the PA’s steadfast tactic of leveraging pay-to-slay reform to get concessions from the United States and Israel. The PA is likely to make serious demands from both nations in exchange.” — Aaron Goren, Research Analyst and Editor