Outrage: PA PM Calls October 7 ‘Turning Point’ — Israel Pressures Trump to Act

In a sharply worded letter to U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, has called for immediate and severe personal sanctions against former Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh.

The demand comes after a televised interview—exposed by journalist Elhanan Groner of HaKol HaYehudi—in which Shtayyeh described the October 7 massacre as “a daring and unprecedented act” and “a turning point in the Palestinian struggle.” Dagan condemned these remarks as “blatant incitement” and “direct support for terrorism,” stressing that they were made by a senior figure whose administration had long benefited from U.S. financial aid.

“I appeal to you as courageous leaders who have always stood by Israel in its fight against terror,” Dagan wrote. “Shtayyeh’s words are not just incitement—they are justification for mass murder. The U.S. has shown in the past that it will not tolerate support for terrorism, and therefore must act immediately to impose personal sanctions on him. Such action would send a clear message: support for terror will not go unanswered.”

Dagan further labeled Shtayyeh “one of the greatest terror financiers of our generation, who incites for another Nazi-like massacre,” and urged Washington to take steps that would restrict his international activities, limit his freedom of movement, and freeze his assets.

The letter underscores growing frustration within Israel’s leadership over what it sees as the international community’s failure to hold Palestinian leaders accountable for statements and actions that glorify terrorism.