Qatar PM Accuses Netanyahu of Obstructing Gaza Peace for Political Gain

Qatar's Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of hindering efforts to reach a peace agreement in Gaza for personal political gain. In a Saturday interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Al Thani stated that the core issue is the personal interests of Netanyahu and his far-right government.

Al Thani asserted that Israel has not fulfilled its commitments under an agreement reached in Sharm El Sheikh last October, which was mediated by Egypt between Israel and Hamas. He claimed that instead of withdrawing from Gaza, Israeli forces have occupied over 70% of the strip and continue to kill civilians, despite the agreement stipulating a ceasefire. He also noted that the daily average of humanitarian aid trucks entering Gaza is 150, far below the agreed-upon minimum of 600.

"We have a long list of violations by the Netanyahu government," Al Thani said, identifying Netanyahu as the primary obstacle to peace, despite the strenuous efforts of mediators. He refuted Israeli claims that Qatar diverted funds to Hamas's military wing, emphasizing that no Qatari funds have reached the wing, intentionally or otherwise. He clarified that all Qatari funds entering Gaza, which require coordination and approval from both the UN and the Israeli government, have been used exclusively for purchasing gas for Gaza's power plants, funding an Israeli-approved list of impoverished families, and paying salaries to government and civilian employees in Gaza, with lists approved by Israeli security agencies like Shin Bet and Mossad.

Al Thani also addressed the "Qatargate" scandal in Israel, calling it "ridiculous" and a potentially "worst investment" for Qatar. He recalled former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's attempts to designate Qatar as a hostile state, contrasting it with Bennett's government's previous requests for Qatari assistance. He accused Israeli politicians of using Qatar as a scapegoat to create internal political conflicts, stating that Qatar is often targeted because it is perceived as the only nation actively trying to end and contain conflicts in the region.