Palestinian Authority (PA) Minister of Women’s Affairs Haifa Al-Agha has reportedly praised Palestinian mothers for what she called a “unique” trait: they alone in the world rejoice when they lose their sons to martyrdom.

Palestinian Media Watch translated the minister’s statements to official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida from earlier this month. “(PA) Minister of Women’s Affairs Haifa Al-Agha…noted the Palestinian woman’s uniqueness, which differentiates her from the women of the world, as (only) she receives the news of her son’s martyrdom with cries of joy,” read the PMW translation of the article.

The martyrs to whom Al-Agha refers are the terrorists killed during attacks on Israelis. Her comments come at the height of a terror wave which has claimed the lives of 22 victims since mid-September and shows no signs of stopping. Even Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon (Likud) admitted last Friday that he doesn’t know when it will end.

Al-Agha is originally from Gaza, where she formerly served as director of the Hamas government’s Ministry of Education. She later joined the Palestinian unity government, despite US claims that the new government does not include Hamas members.

The Minister for Women’s Affairs also noted with pride, “the Palestinian girls and women have proven their ability to contribute to their homeland, and that they have a significant presence in the field and battle arenas.”

In its report, PMW points out that by praising mothers for their “cries of joy,” the minister “is sending a message to PA society to attack Israelis without fear of death because Martyrdom for Allah is said to be the highest value and highest achievable status.”

This is typical of the PA, whose leader, Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, has made inflammatory statements in public, inciting further terror by praising the bloodshed in Jerusalem “for Allah” and calling to stop “filthy” Jews from visiting the Temple Mount.