Qatar Denies Funding Hamas, Blames Israel for Aid Oversight

Qatar's Ministry of Communications has issued a rare official statement vehemently denying allegations that it directly transferred funds to Hamas. The statement, released in response to a New Yorker magazine investigation, asserts that all financial aid, along with food, medicine, fuel, and other essential goods, entered Gaza only after full coordination with Israeli authorities and international partners. Qatar maintained that no funds were transferred to any entity without Israel's knowledge and involvement at every stage.

Furthermore, Doha stated that if any funds did reach Hamas, the sole responsibility lies with Israel, which oversaw the aid's entry into the Strip throughout the tenures of various prime ministers, including Benjamin Netanyahu, Yair Lapid, and Naftali Bennett, via its security mechanisms like the Mossad and Shin Bet. Qatar also sharply criticized the investigation itself, claiming it aims to damage its reputation as an international mediator. The Qatari Foreign Ministry alleged that far-right elements in Israel have disseminated baseless documents over the years to undermine Qatar's crucial role.

The investigation and Qatar's response have reignited scrutiny of the involvement of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's associates, Yonatan Uriach, Israel Einhorn, and Eli Feldstein, in the "Qatar Affair." According to key investigation materials, Uriach and Feldstein, in coordination with Einhorn, allegedly worked to clear Qatar of terrorism financing accusations and promote it as a preferred mediator for hostage deals, partly by disseminating pro-Qatari and anti-Egyptian messages in Israeli media. One revealed correspondence explicitly stated, "We need to brief on how to trust the friends."

The affair continues to stir the political system, raising serious questions about behind-the-scenes conduct. Previously, various initiatives aimed at pressuring Qatar were uncovered. According to a Haaretz investigation, on the sixth day of the Swords of Iron War, a secret WhatsApp group of about 30 senior figures, political advisors, campaigners, and public relations experts, organized an international campaign against Qatar as a Hamas financier. This initiative rapidly launched dedicated foreign-language websites, social media accounts, and presentations, but after a month of intensive volunteer work, the project faded and was shelved.