Palestinian Authority Ends Controversial "Martyr Fund" Amid U.S. Pressure

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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has signed a decree to abolish the contested "Martyr Fund," which provided monthly payments to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and families of deceased militants. This decision, reported on February 11, 2025, follows significant pressure from the U.S. government, which has long criticized the fund as incentivizing violence against Israelis.

Historically, the fund has distributed financial aid totaling around $170 million annually to approximately 35,000 recipients, including families of those killed in attacks against Israelis. Under the new directive, payments will now be based solely on financial need, akin to standard social welfare programs.

The move comes after ongoing critiques from both Israel and multiple U.S. administrations, including the implementation of the Taylor Force Act in 2018, which has restricted American aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA) for such payments. Despite the longstanding popularity of the fund among Palestinians, Abbas's decision reflects a strategic shift aimed at reconciling relations with the current U.S. administration.

Israeli officials have dismissed the change, labeling it as "a new fraudulent trick."

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