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🇮🇱 Israel /Culture & Society

US student groups fundraise to supplement PA funds to 'mothers of martyrs'

From Jerusalem Post · (8m ago) English Mixed tone

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • American student organizations are fundraising to support the "Mothers of martyrs in Jenin" to supplement Palestinian Authority payments, which have allegedly been withheld.
  • Groups including CCNY Students for Justice in Palestine organized a bake sale to raise funds, citing the "brutal siege" of Jenin Camp and displacement of residents.
  • The Palestinian Authority's alleged withholding of funds follows criticism over a decree altering payments to families of Palestinians killed or jailed by Israeli forces, a program critics label as "pay to slay."

In the United States, a wave of student activism is channeling support towards Palestinian causes, with several organizations fundraising for the "Mothers of martyrs in Jenin." As reported by The Jerusalem Post, groups such as City College of New York (CCNY) Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), John Jay College SJP, and others have organized events like bake sales to supplement funds for families in Jenin.

Jenin Camp has been under brutal siege by the occupation for over a year. All of its residents have been displaced and many of the families have members who have ascended to martyrdom.

— CCNY SJPExplanation for the fundraising efforts on Instagram.

The student groups claim that the Palestinian Authority (PA) has "refused to provide the financial support that was previously allotted to families of martyrs." They describe the situation in Jenin Camp as a "brutal siege" leading to widespread displacement and loss of life. This action by the PA comes amidst ongoing controversy surrounding its payment programs to families of Palestinians killed or imprisoned by Israeli forces. Critics, including the US State Department, have described this program as "pay to slay," though the PA maintains it operates through a social welfare agency.

Recently, the treacherous Palestinian Authority has refused to provide the financial support that was previously allotted to families of martyrs.

— CCNY SJPAllegation regarding the PA's withholding of funds.

This fundraising effort highlights the deep engagement of American student groups with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and their willingness to mobilize resources in support of Palestinian narratives. The involvement of various SJP chapters and other pro-Palestinian organizations across CUNY and other universities demonstrates a coordinated approach to activism. The fact that these funds are intended to supplement PA payments, which are themselves controversial, adds another layer of complexity to the situation, reflecting the intricate political and financial dynamics at play in the region and their resonance within American academic institutions.

The financial support program has been described by critics as providing stipends to the families of terrorists, and dubbed by many "pay to slay."

— Jerusalem PostDescribing the controversial nature of the PA's payment program.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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