The US State Department has formally determined that the Palestinian Authority (PA) has paid salaries to convicted terrorists released from Israeli prisons as part of its October 2025 ceasefire agreement with Hamas. This determination was made in a non-public report to Congress, which was compiled between August 2025 and January 2026. The report marks the first time the US government has confirmed that the PA has provided payments to convicted terrorists released from Israeli prisons under President Trump's 20-point peace plan.
The notice to Congress confirms a similar conclusion made by the State Department in January, which noted that despite PA President Mahmoud Abbas's claim in 2025 that he had scrapped the so-called pay-to-slay program, his government had still doled out hundreds of millions of dollars to terrorists and their families. The PA had transitioned to concealing these payments from Western governments by funneling them through a newly established welfare authority. The recent State Department report confirms that a portion of these funds has gone to the terrorists released in October.
The State Department report comes about six months after the beginning of President Donald Trump's Gaza ceasefire, which included a commitment from Abbas that the PA would undertake a series of reforms, including ending pay-to-slay. However, the notice to Congress demonstrates that Abbas and his government have not followed through on this commitment in any meaningful way. In fact, the PA appears to have gone further since the end of the period covered in the State Department report, with Abbas's Fatah party announcing that terrorists who have been imprisoned for more than 20 years will be granted leadership positions.
According to the Palestinian Media Watch research group, Fatah Revolutionary Council member Tayseer Nasrallah said in a televised interview in March that these terrorists will serve as members in the upcoming Eighth Fatah Conference, the forum at which the PA sets government policy. This move has been criticized by US lawmakers, including Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas), who said that the shortcomings documented in the report confirm that the PA has no intention of becoming a serious partner for peace.
'The Palestinian Authority has been inciting terrorism and undermining peace for decades,' Sen. Cruz told the Washington Free Beacon. 'They've never lived up to the commitments they've made to the United States, and they've always been allowed to get away with it. President Trump has made it clear that their behavior is unacceptable, and much more should be done to hold them accountable for the violence they cause.'
The State Department report also includes other examples of the PA violating the terms of its agreements with the United States. The PA has 'incited and glorified violence, including on social media and media outlets,' and 'supported terrorism via educational materials and summer camps' that teach children jihadist ideologies. Additionally, the PA has broken its promises to resolve conflicts with Israel 'through negotiations and exclusively peaceful means,' including efforts 'to bypass direct negotiations' by pushing for the creation of a Palestinian state at the United Nations.
Furthermore, the State Department told Congress that Palestinian leaders have endorsed 'lawfare against Israel' in their pursuit of war crimes cases at the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. The US government has responded to these actions by revoking the visas of members of Abbas's government ahead of the September UN General Assembly, and has continued its 'blanket denial' of US visas to all Palestinian government officials. This policy will remain in effect for six months, or until the next State Department report, at which point it will be renewed if the PA has not engaged in necessary reforms.
The report also notes that Palestinian officials have meddled in Israel's international affairs, including instances in which they 'actively tried to dissuade additional countries from entering the Abraham Accords.' The PA has also 'fully supported the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement that has sought to undermine and delegitimize Israel,' even as it officially disavowed the Arab League boycott of Israel. These actions have significant implications for the US-Israel relationship and the prospects for peace in the region.
The US State Department's determination is based on a thorough review of the PA's actions and policies, including its compliance with the terms of the ceasefire agreement and its commitments to the United States. The report highlights the PA's failure to meet its obligations, including its continued support for terrorism and its efforts to undermine Israel's legitimacy.
The implications of the State Department's report are far-reaching. The US government's confirmation that the PA has paid salaries to convicted terrorists undermines the credibility of the PA as a partner for peace. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of the US government's policies towards the PA and the need for a re-evaluation of the US-PA relationship.
For American readers, the report highlights the challenges of promoting peace and stability in the Middle East. The US government's efforts to support a two-state solution and to promote economic development in the region are undermined by the PA's actions. The report also underscores the need for the US government to take a strong stance against terrorism and to hold the PA accountable for its actions.
For Canadian readers, the report has implications for Canada's own policies towards the PA and Israel. The Canadian government has been a strong supporter of the two-state solution and has provided significant aid to the PA. However, the report's findings raise questions about the effectiveness of this aid and the need for Canada to re-evaluate its policies towards the PA.
In conclusion, the US State Department's report is a significant development in the ongoing efforts to promote peace and stability in the Middle East. The report's findings highlight the challenges of working with the PA and the need for a re-evaluation of the US-PA relationship. For American and Canadian readers, the report underscores the importance of taking a strong stance against terrorism and promoting a peaceful and stable region.