Palestinian Authority official promotes PA death cult: “Palestine is dearer to our hearts than our sons”
At a recent graduation ceremony for released terrorists and students at Al-Quds Open University, the PA's District Governor of Ramallah Laila Ghannam represented PA Chairman Abbas. Speaking in Abbas' name she promoted the PA's death cult, stressing that Palestinians hold "Palestine" in higher regard than the life of their children, who they are willing to sacrifice for "the homeland":
District Governor of Ramallah Laila Ghannam: "It is the Palestinian woman's right to ululate in joy [over her sons' graduation] as she ululated at the funeral of her sons. We know that every son is dear to his mother, but Palestine is dearer to our hearts."
[Ramallah District Governor Laila Ghannam, Facebook page, July 28, 2026]
This was only a few days after Ghannam at another graduation ceremony told students that dying for Allah – "Martyrdom" – is the "greater certificate," meaning death as a Martyr is better than obtaining a matriculation certificate. Palestinian Media Watch has exposed how Ghannam and other top PA officials use this word play on the Arabic word "shahada," which can mean both.
Ten years ago, PMW documented the same word play used by the PA in two of its official means of communication. Reporting on high school graduations in 2016, the PA compared the "certificates" obtained by students to the "certificates" obtained by students who chose the way of terror and died while attacking Israelis. The PA openly stated which is the better certificate, explaining that "death as a Martyr is the path to excellence and greatness" [WAFA, official PA news agency), July 11, 2016; official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, July 12, 2016].
The PA claims to Western donors that it is "reforming." The funders of the PA's future should demand that the PA stop promoting its death cult to Palestinians in general and to youth in particular.
The following are longer excerpts of the statements cited above:
Ramallah District Governor Laila Ghannam posted text and video on her Facebook page.
Posted text: "Photos from my participation, as the representative of His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas at the graduation ceremony of our released prisoners (i.e., terrorists) and students at the College of Advanced Studies at Al-Quds Open University, in a play portraying the victory of the Palestinian will over prison and shackles.
The graduation of the released prisoners, who insisted on continuing their academic path after years of imprisonment, attended by the families of the Martyrs and the prisoners, carries a message of loyalty to all who sacrificed for Palestine and emphasizes that our people's sacrifice will not be in vain and will remain a beacon illuminating the path to our people's freedom. Profound gratitude to the warrior and resolute Palestinian mothers, as the mothers who ululated at the funerals of their Martyr sons merit the chance to ululate today in joy at the graduation of their sons."
Ramallah District Governor Laila Ghannam: "Amir Abu Raddaha was imprisoned for 34 years, but today – stand up, Amir, raise your head! Raise your head, let them congratulate you. 34 years, but he defeated the prison, the oppression, and the jailers, and today he is in higher education. Congratulations, Amir!"
Laila Ghannam: "It is the Palestinian woman's right to ululate in joy [over her sons' graduation] as she ululated at the funeral of her sons. We know that every son is dear to his mother, but Palestine is dearer to our hearts."
[Ramallah Governor Laila Ghannam, Facebook page, July 28, 2026]