Netanyahu Accused of Approving Funds to Hamas Military Wing

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allegedly received intelligence about funds being transferred to the military wing of Hamas from 2019 onwards but continued to approve these transfers, according to a Ynet report. The investigation claims that these funds, totaling roughly half the budget of Hamas's armed wing, were transferred with Netanyahu's knowledge. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett stated that Netanyahu not only sought to maintain calm through these payments but also rejected proposals to eliminate Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar at least 11 times. Bennett asserted that the investigation proves Netanyahu is trying to evade personal responsibility for the October 7th events and vowed to establish a state commission to investigate the matter under a future government.

The Prime Minister's Office denied the allegations, calling them previously refuted claims being recirculated before elections. The office stated that security leadership supported the Qatari payments for humanitarian needs and maintaining calm in Gaza. They also noted that Netanyahu ordered a halt to these payments after the "Operation Guardian of the Walls" but that the Bennett-Lapid government subsequently resumed them. The report has generated significant public discussion and is considered a major story in the current election campaign.