Qatar Denies Funding Hamas, Blames Israel for Diversion Tactics

Qatar has vehemently denied allegations from Israeli media that its humanitarian aid to Gaza was funneled to Hamas, asserting that all assistance was intended for Palestinian civilians and was delivered through channels coordinated with Israeli authorities and international partners. The International Media Bureau of Qatar issued a statement on Friday rejecting the claims, which it suggested were promoted by far-right Israeli politicians seeking to distract from domestic issues and target Qatar for criticism. According to Qatar, financial aid, food, medicine, and fuel previously passed through Israel before reaching Gaza, and UN structures, in coordination with Israel, were responsible for the actual distribution, not Qatar directly. Doha emphasized that this humanitarian aid was openly supported by Israeli leaders across various governments and involved Israeli security forces for years. Qatar stated it has faced a multi-year campaign from pro-Israel media, lobbyists, and research groups, which it believes intensifies with Israeli elections to divert attention from internal problems. While asserting it will not interfere in Israeli politics, Qatar vowed to respond to accusations and reaffirmed its commitment to humanitarian support for Palestinians and mediation efforts for regional stability. A separate report mentioned Qatar spending millions to promote anti-Israel views in the U.S. education system.