The United States government has dismissed a recent audit suggesting the Palestinian Authority (PA) reformed its prisoner payment system. The audit claimed payments are now based on financial need rather than time served in prison. However, the State Department contends the review failed to investigate “clandestine bypass channels” potentially used to continue rewarding prisoners and their families. Washington alleges the PA may still be circumventing reforms intended to halt payments to those convicted of terrorism. This move casts doubt on the PA’s stated commitment to ending the controversial practice, which has been a major point of contention with Israel and the US. The US remains skeptical that the PA has genuinely ceased financially incentivizing acts of violence. The findings raise concerns about the credibility of the audit and its limited scope.