Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, has been trying to distance himself from one of the most controversial policies of his government as the elections on October 27 approach: allowing Qatar to transfer nearly $2 billion to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. Newly released documents indicate that Israel has played a direct role in a program that is far broader than what Netanyahu has publicly acknowledged.
History of Payments
Since 2012, Netanyahu's government has continued to facilitate Qatar's payments to Gaza, which began after Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007. By 2018, Qatar had sent approximately $1.1 billion to the region, with these funds allocated to humanitarian aid, fuel, and government salaries. Israeli officials publicly criticized Qatar that year, and Qatar also requested official documentation regarding an agreement that the two governments had reached to assist Gaza's citizens.
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Israel and Qatar Cooperation
Shortly after, a letter from Yossi Cohen, the then-head of Mossad, to the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, was released, praising Qatar's humanitarian efforts in Gaza. This cooperation led to the establishment of a system in which Israel played a direct role in facilitating Qatar's aid: delivering food and medicine, identifying families eligible for financial assistance, and funding improvements to Gaza's electricity supply.
Netanyahu has faced significant criticism for allegedly seeking to maintain Hamas's sovereignty in Gaza to divide Palestinians between this group and the Palestinian Authority. This criticism suggests that Netanyahu aimed to contain Hamas by assisting the group while Israel sought to normalize relations with Arab countries.
Since October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, the flow of money from Qatar to Gaza has become a sensitive issue. Qatar has faced criticism from Israeli officials claiming that its payments have aided Hamas, while Qatari officials have emphasized that all aid has been provided to Palestinians through mechanisms coordinated with Israeli authorities.
The Prime Minister's Office of Israel has not responded to these issues. The new documents provide Israelis with a complete view of a policy that led to disaster, and they are preparing to judge the person who oversaw this policy.
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