Defense Minister Yisrael Katz today (Tuesday) imposed sanctions on released terrorists - residents and citizens of the State of Israel, who receive payments from the Palestinian Authority, in accordance with the recommendation of the Headquarters for Economic Combating Terrorism (MATL) at the Defense Ministry and in cooperation with the Shin Bet.
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The sanctions were imposed as part of the security establishment's economic campaign against terrorist organizations, including the Palestinian Authority's payments to security prisoners.
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The terrorist funds that the Minister of Defense ordered to be seized were paid by the Palestinian Authority to terrorists serving prison sentences in Israeli prisons, released prisoners, and their families, as compensation for the terrorist acts they committed.
The offenses include attempted kidnapping of soldiers, preparation of explosives, smuggling of explosives, and more.
Following the imposition of sanctions, police forces and members of the General Staff raided the homes of those subject to the warrants and seized property and cash worth hundreds of thousands of shekels.
According to the report submitted by the Minister of Defense to the Cabinet on the Palestinian Authority's payments to terrorists in connection with terrorism in 2024, NIS 470,000,000 of the settlement funds intended for the Palestinians were frozen - and these will be transferred to compensate victims of terrorism and families of victims of terrorism.
Minister Katz stated: "We will not allow the Palestinian Authority to continue rewarding terrorists for murdering and harming Israeli citizens. The blood money that the Palestinian Authority pays to terrorists is fuel for terrorism. The State of Israel is in a comprehensive war against terrorism - on the battlefield, in the economic sphere, and in every arena where it is needed. Anyone who chooses to act against the State of Israel will pay a heavy price for it.".
""The economic campaign through the General Staff and other bodies against terrorism will continue, and the PA's payments to terrorists will be met with a harsh and uncompromising hand. The frozen funds will be transferred to compensate the families of terror victims - instead of being used as a reward for the murderers.".
The head of the Economic Combating of Terrorism Headquarters, Attorney Paul Landes, added: "The economic struggle is one of the most significant and effective tools against terrorism - seizure and confiscation of PA payments to terrorists will continue to be carried out by the Economic Combating of Terrorism Headquarters.".
The 'Choose Life' forum of bereaved families and victims of terrorism congratulated the Minister of Defense on his decision to impose economic sanctions against the released terrorists and their families: "After a meeting we held with the Minister of Defense, in which we emphasized the need for practical actions to prevent payments to terrorists, we are happy to see that the words are being translated into actions on the ground. Seizing property and funds worth hundreds of thousands of shekels is a significant step in the fight against the financing of terrorism by the Palestinian Authority.".
The forum added: "Seizing the property and funds is a significant step towards deterring the next terrorist and preventing the next attack. It is also another important step against the terror industry funded by the Palestinian Authority. We expect continued determined and systematic activity on the economic level alongside security activity on the ground. It is time to stop celebrating payments to terrorists and ensure that public money reaches the victims of terrorism and their families and not the pockets of the murderers. We thank the Minister of Defense for the important decision and expect continued aggressive policy in this area.".
