PA: Become a Martyr and “be led in a wedding procession” to 72 virgins
“The Martyr of the revolution will be led in a wedding processionon the day that Martyrdom-death is granted to him”
“Escalate with bullets and bombs… The Martyrs’ blood illuminates our path”
Since the Palestinian Authority started its terror campaign – the second Intifada - in 2000, it has been promising terrorist Martyrs that as Muslims they will be rewarded in Paradise with 72 Dark-Eyed Virgins. The promises are given in religious lessons, statements by political figures, and poems and music videos, while funeral notices are worded as “wedding” announcements. Becoming a Martyr, the PA teaches, represents the highest religious achievement that can be attained in Islam today.
Another two examples have joined Palestinian Media Watch’s collection of such music videos that are used by the PA to encourage Palestinians to seek death and become “Martyrs” for “Palestine.” One of them specifically repeats the promise of the Martyrs’ wedding.
The music video – which visually glorifies the Palestinian “armed struggle” by focusing on military training and weapons - reminds viewers that death as a “Martyr” is really a “wedding” to the 72 Virgins of Paradise:
“The Martyr of the revolution will be led in a wedding procession
on the day that Martyrdom-death is granted to him”
The other music video has been used in the PA’s recent attempt to incite the atmosphere among Palestinians and teaches that “the Martyrs’ blood illuminates our path”:
Lyrics: “At the bases we waved the Degtyaryov [machine gun] and the RPG
We went into the midst of death with our bullets and we did not fear
We carried out the operation (i.e., terror attack) and returned home…
You’ll find us from Rafah (i.e., southern Gaza) to Rosh HaNikra (i.e., northern Israel)
Our revolution is in every village and city…
We’ll fight with short[-barreled rifles], daggers, and Martin [rifles]
All of the masses are self-sacrificing fighters
We are used to death and sacrifice...
This is our path, we’ll not desist from it
For your sake, our revolution, we are insignificant…
We are bold wherever the enemy is
O our revolution, strike with your legs, strike!
Escalate with our bullets and our bombs…
The blood of the Martyrs illuminates our path…
We pledge to the revolution - we won't relinquish our weapons.”
[Official PA TV Live, July 1, 2020]
This song doesn’t just encourage Martyrdom, but glorifies the use of weapons, even naming specific machine guns, RPGs, rifles, and daggers.
A third song broadcast by the PA similarly focuses on “the rifle” and being fearless of dying: “I'll wear death”:
Lyrics:“Take me with you to Palestine, oh men
I want to live or die like men
Now I have a rifle
Say to those who ask about my cause
That now the rifle is the cause
Now I have a rifle, now I'm on the list of rebels
I'll trample the thorns and the dust, I'll wear death”[Official PA TV Live, June 17 (twice), 29, July, 1, 2020]
The song "Now I have a rifle" was originally performed by Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum. PMW has previously exposed that the song was part of the repertoire at an event at event supported by PA Ministry of Culture. In the current version, PA TV Live blended in images of arch-terrorist Abu Jihad, who organized attacks in which at least 125 were murdered, and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat, who led two terror campaigns – intifadas – during which more than 1,300 Israelis were murdered.
These songs are parts of a long series of PA TV music videos and fillers glorifying terror, encouraging violence, and urging Palestinians to seek death while confronting Israel violently as PMW has documented.
The following are some of the music videos and fillers the PA has broadcast intensively the last few months in anticipation of Israel's presumed application of Israeli law to the Jordan Valley and Jewish towns in the West Bank, a step Israel has not yet taken.
Be a suicide bomber and "celebrate" with virgins in Paradise: "Al-Aqsa has called… For its sake, life is insignificant... God, grant us Martyrdom there,” images of suicide bombers included in music video:
Music video encourages Martyrdom for Al-Aqsa: “O our Martyr, we must follow in your footsteps,” Footage of stabbing attack included in music video:
“We water [the land] with our blood” - PA encourages death for “Palestine”
Defense of the Jordan Valley will be “with spirit and blood” – anyone who gives in is a “traitor” in PA TV filler
“This is the great people, it fights with daggers and rocks, with knives and cannon shells”:
The following is a longer excerpt of one of the songs cited above:
Lyrics: “Days that pass and tell the stories of my land...
Welcome! Welcome!
Above the hill, under the hill, between valley and valley
Woe to the occupier before us
The revolution [paved the way of] the trigger for me
Welcome! Welcome! ...
A revolution of glory that won’t be humiliated by the passersby
If you ask about us – you will be convinced
You will find me and my children!
Welcome! Welcome! ...
The Martyr of the revolution will be led in a wedding procession
on the day that Martyrdom-death is granted to him”[Official PA TV Live, June 29, 2020]
Abu Jihad (Khalil Al-Wazir) - was a founder of Fatah and deputy to Yasser Arafat. He headed the PLO terror organization's military wing and also planned many deadly Fatah terror attacks in the 1960’s - 1980’s. These attacks, in which a total of 125 Israelis were murdered, included the Coastal Road attack that (until Oct. 7, 2023) was the most lethal in Israeli history - the hijacking of a bus and murder of 37 civilians, 12 of them children.
Yasser Arafat – Founder of Fatah and former chairman of the PLO and PA. During the 1960s, 70s and 80s Arafat was behind numerous terror attacks against Israelis. Although he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 together with then Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and then Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Shimon Peres “for their efforts to create peace in the Middle East" after signing the Oslo Accords peace agreement, Arafat launched a 5-year terror campaign - the second Intifada (2000-2005) – in which more than 1,000 Israelis were murdered. Arafat died of an illness in 2004.