Abbas Faces Backlash Over Prisoner Payment Overhaul Impacting 40,000 Families

President Mahmoud Abbas has faced widespread criticism following his decree to restructure payments for families of Palestinians killed or jailed by Israel. The change, interpreted as a concession to U.S. demands, aims to replace direct payments with a social welfare system based on family needs, affecting an estimated 35,000 to 40,000 families. Critics argue that the previous system, long condemned as 'pay-for-slay,' was essential for the welfare of detainees' families. Analysts suggest the move is an attempt to ease tensions with the U.S. and maintain the Palestinian Authority's standing amid a pro-Israeli shift in Washington. Palestinian officials have called for the decree's withdrawal, emphasizing the need for broader political consensus on such significant changes. Israel's government dismissed the changes as superficial, implying that financial support for families would continue through other means.