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By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
RAMALLAH/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says he remains committed to payments to families of prisoners convicted of terror against Israel or to loved ones of those who died while carrying out acts of terrorism.
His comments on what his critics call “pay-to-slay” payments came despite him issuing a decree that was supposed to end the scheme amid frictions over the issue with the United States.
It was not immediately clear whether the return of fiercely pro-Israel Donald J. Trump to the White House played a role in the decision.
In video footage seen by Worthy News, Abbas told the 12th session of his Fatah party’s Revolutionary Council, the Palestinian legislature in the West Bank, that the Palestinian Authority would continue the payments. “I told you once, and I stand by my word, that if we have only a single penny left, it will go to the prisoners and the martyrs,” he said.
“I will not allow [anyone] – and neither will you – to remove any commitment, interest, or penny that is given to them.”
The closing statement of the Revolutionary Council session, issued on February 22, affirmed the council’s commitment to “redouble the efforts to support and assist the prisoners in the occupation jails.”
It described them as “heroes of [the struggle for] freedom who are first in line for protection and sponsorship.”
It was not immediately clear what impact the statement would have on U.S. support for the Palestinians in the West Bank, also known as Judea and Samaria.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
President Donald Trump returned to the White House Saturday evening after unexpectedly cutting short his stay at Camp David, as mounting tensions prompted new security warnings for Americans across the Middle East.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sharply shortened his upcoming visit to the United States, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already tense week.
Thousands of people, many of them Christians, braved the rain at Amsterdam’s central Dam Square for a pro-Israel rally, while police arrested more than a dozen pro-Palestinian protesters who attempted to disrupt the gathering.
President Donald Trump announced a sweeping security agreement with Denmark and Greenland that would grant the United States permanent military rights on the strategically important Arctic island. The agreement strengthens America’s northern defenses without transferring ownership of Greenland to the United States.
Organizers were weighing their options after Ireland joined the Netherlands in boycotting the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest over Israel’s participation, deepening divisions surrounding one of the world’s most watched music events, which attracted about 131 million television viewers last year.
Algerian special police forces have raided a Christian gathering and detained 12 believers, adding to concerns about religious freedom in the predominantly Muslim North African nation, Christians told Worthy News.
Authorities in Nigeria’s predominantly Christian Plateau State have ordered a crackdown on an unauthorized Islamic religious police group attempting to enforce aspects of Sharia, or Islamic law, amid broader concerns about pressure on Christians and fresh deadly violence in Nigeria’s troubled Middle Belt region.
The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.
Copyright The New Jerusalem Media.