Qatar PM Calls Netanyahu "War Criminal," Defends Gaza Aid Mechanism

Qatar's Prime Minister, in an interview with Piers Morgan, labeled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "war criminal" if the actions in Gaza are deemed war crimes. He asserted that Netanyahu bears responsibility for the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip and accused the Israeli leader of attempting to deflect attention from Israel's actions by criticizing Qatar. The Qatari Prime Minister stated that Netanyahu should answer questions about his own government's conduct rather than making accusations against Doha.

The Qatari leader vehemently denied allegations that Qatari funds were used to support Hamas, build tunnels, or bolster the organization's military capabilities. He explained that Qatar's financial aid to Gaza, amounting to approximately $30 million monthly, was provided at the request of the United States and in coordination with Israeli authorities and the UN. This aid included $15 million for fuel purchases from Israel, $10 million for families, and $5 million for public servants, with recipient lists reportedly approved by Israeli security agencies.

He also recounted that Qatar proposed a ceasefire in exchange for the release of civilian hostages on October 7th, but claimed Israel was not interested at that time. While condemning the October 7th attacks as a massacre, he stressed that those responsible should be held accountable.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the regional conflict has significantly impacted Qatar's economy, potentially leading to billions in lost LNG export revenue and a decline in tourism and GDP. He described the war as an "earthquake" but noted that the country's sovereign wealth funds are sufficient to manage the economic fallout. He also mentioned being informed of an impending Iranian strike on Qatar shortly before it occurred.

Regarding accusations of influencing American universities, the Qatari Prime Minister stated that about 95% of the mentioned funds were for establishing U.S. university campuses in Doha, not for shaping public opinion. He also appealed to former U.S. President Donald Trump to favor "quiet diplomacy" over public statements and social media during negotiations, suggesting a new nuclear deal with Iran and dialogue between Iran and Gulf states as potential solutions.