Israeli Forces Raid East Jerusalem Homes of Released Terrorists Receiving Palestinian Authority Payments

Israeli security forces from the Economic Warfare Headquarters against Terrorism (Matcal) in the Defense Ministry and the Central Unit of the Jerusalem District conducted coordinated raids on homes of terrorists and their families in East Jerusalem. These individuals had been released in previous hostage exchange deals but continued to receive payments from the Palestinian Authority. The operation, carried out under seizure orders issued by Defense Minister Israel Katz, targeted funds paid as rewards by the Palestinian Authority to terrorists and their families.

During the raids, authorities confiscated vehicles, gold, and cash totaling hundreds of thousands of shekels. Among those targeted were Muhammad Abd al-Rahman Abbad, involved in a 2002 attempted suicide bombing in Jerusalem, and Ahed Faiz Ali al-Natsheh, a Hamas operative linked to a 2001 car bomb plot in Pisgat Ze'ev and an attack in the Klal Center in Jerusalem injuring police officers and civilians.

The operation involved representatives from the Defense Ministry, Jerusalem police's Central Unit, and Border Police fighters. They seized five vehicles, approximately 96,000 shekels in cash, and gold jewelry. These measures follow seizure orders against Israeli residents and citizens released in hostage deals who continue to receive financial rewards from the Palestinian Authority for terrorist acts. The sanctions were recommended by Matcal and executed in cooperation with the Shin Bet and police as part of a broader economic campaign by Israel's security apparatus to disrupt terror financing and payment mechanisms to terrorists and their families.