Qatar Blames Israel for Any Hamas Funds, Denies Direct Role

Qatar has issued a strong statement refuting findings from a New Yorker magazine investigation that suggested Doha transferred funds to Hamas. Qatari authorities asserted that all aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza, including food, medicine, and fuel, was channeled through mechanisms coordinated with Israeli and international bodies. They emphasized that no funds entered Gaza without Israeli involvement at every stage.

Qatar further stated that its aid has been provided for years under various Israeli governments and with the knowledge of Israeli security agencies. "If any funding reached Hamas, it had nothing to do with Qatar," the statement read, placing responsibility on Israel for overseeing the transfers. Qatar pointed to Israeli oversight under Prime Ministers Bennett, Lapid, and Netanyahu, involving agencies like the Mossad and Shin Bet.

The New Yorker report, published September 19, also touched upon the conduct of advisors to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and included claims about the Qatari government sending money to Hamas. Qatar dismissed these claims as part of a broader disinformation campaign against the country, alleging that certain groups, including the Israeli far-right, have been involved in creating and disseminating fabricated documents to incriminate Qatar.

Qatar described the magazine's claims as based on "false and fabricated information," likening the article to an amateur blog rather than a reputable news report. This statement follows a separate Israeli media report from Ynet and Yediot Ahronot, which alleged that Prime Minister Netanyahu received intelligence as early as 2019 indicating that Qatari funds, encouraged by him, were also being directed towards Hamas's military buildup. The report further suggested that 40-50% of Hamas's military budget originated from these funds, with additional funds flowing through a secret channel, and that Egypt had also warned Israel, but Netanyahu allegedly ignored these concerns.