Netanyahu Accused of Ignoring Warnings on Qatari Funds to Hamas Military Wing

Israeli intelligence agencies, including the Shin Bet and Aman (Military Intelligence Directorate), repeatedly warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from 2019 onwards that significant funds from Qatar were being diverted to Hamas's military wing, according to intelligence documents and testimonies. These warnings indicated that these funds, some of which were allegedly funneled through secret channels, constituted up to half of the military wing's budget. Despite explicit alerts and the strong opposition of then-Shin Bet heads Nadav Argaman and Ronen Bar, Netanyahu allegedly continued to permit the transfer of these funds.

Netanyahu's office has vehemently denied these claims, calling them a "collection of lies" and stating that "all heads of the security establishment" supported the Qatari stipends, asserting they were solely for civilian and humanitarian needs to maintain quiet in Gaza. The Prime Minister's office also claims that the Qatari funds were a small percentage of the total aid to Gaza and did not significantly contribute to Hamas's military capabilities or the October 7th attacks.

In February, Netanyahu reportedly presented his own account of the events leading up to October 7th to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. This presentation, based on a 55-page document prepared with assistance from his military secretary and national security advisor, aimed to establish a narrative absolving him of responsibility. This narrative has since been amplified through a media campaign, including a documentary series and online content, promoting the idea that Netanyahu was unaware of or misled about the diversion of funds.

Intelligence sources suggest that the Qatari funding strategy was part of a broader policy to weaken the Palestinian Authority and maintain quiet in Gaza, a strategy that ultimately failed on October 7th. The article details how the funding evolved, from initial direct transfers to Hamas to a more complex system involving humanitarian aid channels, with intelligence estimating hundreds of millions of dollars ultimately reaching the military wing. The Shin Bet, in particular, reportedly opposed the policy, viewing it as a strategic error that strengthened Hamas and increased Iranian-Qatari influence at the expense of Egypt's regional standing.

Following the October 7th attacks, the approach to combating terror financing has shifted, with a focus on aggressive economic warfare. However, the article posits that the financial buildup of Hamas was not due to intelligence failures but a deliberate political decision to continue Qatari funding despite knowing a significant portion was being diverted to military purposes.