PA official: "Heroes' Welcome" Planned for Released Terrorists
A senior Fatah official has hailed the release of convicted terrorists as a moment of triumph for the "giants of loyalty, sacrifice, and resolve." As Fatah calls for the "freedom of all our heroic prisoners," the celebration leaves little doubt—Fatah sees these terrorist murderers not as criminals, but as champions.
Contrary to the pro-peace image it is trying to transmit, the Palestinian Authority is showing its great support for the terrorist prisoners being released in the exchange deal between Israel and Hamas.
Right after the deal was signed, the PA's Governor of Tulkarem announced that all terrorists would be given "a heroes' welcome":
Tulkarem District Governor Abdallah Kmeil: "[In the ceasefire deal] 296 prisoners (i.e., terrorists) who were sentenced to life [will be released]… Thousands of blessings to the prisoners' relatives... Undoubtedly, we will accord them a heroes' welcome, and they deserve to be greeted and we have a plan to welcome everyone. In the Tulkarem district, we will greet them at Tulkarem district headquarters."
[PA Tulkarem District Governorate, Facebook page, Jan. 18, 2025]
Senior Fatah official Tawfiq Tirawi celebrated the release of terrorists and murderers, glorifying them as "the giants of loyalty, sacrifice, and resolve," deserving of "blessings":
Posted text: "[Israel] surrendered to a prisoner exchange deal due to our people's mighty resolve... This led to the collective freedom of thousands of prisoners (i.e., terrorists), including hundreds who were given life sentences and heavy sentences, some of whom had even served more than 40 years in prison.
Despite the pain, wounds, loss, and destruction, this freedom of the giants of loyalty, sacrifice, and resolve is worthy of joy, despite the great pain. These mighty released prisoners deserve blessings... The Palestinian people will not stop its struggle."
[Fatah Central Committee member Tawfiq Tirawi, Facebook page, Jan. 25, 2025]
The Revolutionary Council of PA Chairman Abbas' Fatah Movement issued a statement "sharing in the joy" over the release of the "heroic" terrorist prisoners and vowed to continue "the struggle through all legal means" – a Palestinian term that endorses and promotes the use of terror against Israel:
Posted text: "The Fatah Revolutionary Council shares in the joy of our people and the families of the prisoners who were released and blesses them.
The Revolutionary Council emphasizes our people's insistence on the freedom of all our heroic prisoners from the occupation's (i.e., Israeli) prisons, the continuation of our national struggle through all legal means to stop the Israeli aggression..."
[Fatah Commission of Information and Culture, Facebook page, Jan. 25, 2025]
Many of the released terrorists who have murdered the largest number of Israelis have been expelled to foreign countries. But that did not stop Director of PLO Commission of Prisoners' Affairs Qadura Fares from traveling to Egypt to honor the terrorist murderers. He smilingly posed with them for pictures, all wearing scarves featuring the PA map of "Palestine" that erases Israel:
Posted text: "Pictures from the reception by Director of [PLO] Commission of Prisoners' [Affairs] Qadura Fares for prisoners who were released in the first round of the exchange process in Cairo"
[PLO Commission of Prisoners' Affairs, Facebook page, Jan. 26, 2025]
Meeting with the French consul earlier, Fares expressed his satisfaction with Hamas terrorists' successful holding of the Israeli hostages. Fares stated his belief that in later stages of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, "symbols and leaders of the prisoners' movement," such as Marwan Barghouti who planned terror attacks in which 5 Israelis were murdered, will be released:
"Fares explained to [French Consul General in Jerusalem] Nicolas [Kassianides] that Israel... were forced to finalize the deal to bring back the Israeli prisoners (sic., hostages), whom the Palestinian resistance factions succeeded in holding for more than 15 months, and whom the occupation regime was unable to bring back despite the war of annihilation whose price we are still paying until today...
Fares emphasized that the second round [of the ceasefire] after the first six weeks of the exchange process at this stage, which will take place this Saturday evening or in the early morning hours of Sunday, will be different because it will include prisoners (i.e., terrorists) who were sentenced to life imprisonment or those who have been sentenced to long-term punishment, and this will pave the way for additional rounds in which symbols and leaders of the prisoners' movement will be released, foremost among them prisoner leader Marwan Barghouti (i.e., terrorist, orchestrated three attacks in which 5 were murdered)."
[PLO Commission of Prisoners' Affairs website, Jan. 23, 2025]
Abbas' advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash likewise conveyed the "joy" for the release:
Al-Habbash: "The entire Palestinian nation is experiencing mixed emotions these days. Joy for the release of the prisoners, this batch of prisoners, because every prisoner that is released from the occupation's prisons is an achievement for us as Palestinians, as a people, as a cause, as a struggle, and as a national project."
[PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' Advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash, YouTube channel, Jan. 25, 2025]
Among the PA officials who have rejoiced over the release of terrorists is the PA's governor of Ramallah, Laila Ghannam, who showed her joy and support by visiting terrorists in the hospital as Palestinian Media Watch exposed last week. Ghannam's directorate further posted statements by Ghannam, praising released terrorists who served life sentences as "heroes" and "symbols of resolve and defiance":
Posted text: "Upon receiving these released heroes, Ghannam emphasized that the prisoners are symbols of the struggle and resolve of the Palestinian people in the face of the cruelty of the occupation (i.e., Israel), and added that loyalty to them is a national and moral duty that our people will never neglect… She added: ‘These prisoners who spent decades behind the bars of the occupation are a symbol of resolve and defiance, for despite their long suffering, their high morale is a message of hope to our people that freedom will arrive without a doubt.'"
[Ramallah and El-Bireh Governorate, Facebook page, Jan. 25, 2025]