Disgusting: Newly Freed Terrorists Leave Israeli Prisons as Millionaires

According to Palestinian Media Watch, the 734 terrorists released during the latest round of swaps collectively received over $141 million, with nearly half of them each accumulating more than a million shekels. This system of payments continues to fuel outrage, especially given the perceived injustice of rewarding terrorism with vast sums of money.

As Palestinian Media Watch director Itamar Marcus highlights, the situation is a stark contrast to how criminals are treated in most societies. "In another society, if a criminal goes to jail for murdering someone, he’s ashamed about it. In the Palestinian Authority, they go around with a crown on their heads,” Marcus told JNS. This is because, in the PA’s eyes, these individuals are seen as “legitimate fighters,” even if they have committed horrific acts like killing civilians, including women and children.

Israel has tried to curb these payments by withholding tax revenues to the PA, which funds the program. However, the PA has found ways to bypass such restrictions. Following the closure of thousands of bank accounts related to anti-terror financing laws, payments were routed through post offices or transferred via a dedicated bank designed for laundering money to reward terrorists.

The PA's financial incentives extend beyond prisoners to families of so-called “martyrs” who are killed while carrying out terrorist acts. These families receive a combination of one-time payments and monthly stipends, further perpetuating the financial cycle that rewards violence.

The disturbing reality is that while terrorists who committed unspeakable atrocities are showered with money, the families of their victims are left with nothing but grief and sorrow. As Marcus points out, this system sends a damaging message about values, especially when innocent civilians struggle to make ends meet while terrorists are celebrated and rewarded.

The release of these terrorists not only sends shockwaves through Israeli society but also paints a grim picture of the Palestinian Authority’s priorities, as they continue to reward violence and terror instead of promoting peace and reconciliation.