Israel Facilitated Nearly $2 Billion in Qatari Aid to Gaza, Documents Reveal

Newly revealed documents and correspondence published by Time magazine on October 18 show that Israel not only permitted but actively organized and vetted Qatari financial transfers to the Gaza Strip, totaling nearly $2 billion over more than a decade. These revelations come just nine days before Israeli Knesset elections.

The investigation indicates that successive Israeli governments, including Benjamin Netanyahu's, supported these funding mechanisms even while publicly accusing Qatar of financing Hamas. A significant document is a December 2020 letter from then-Mossad chief Yossi Cohen to Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, thanking him for humanitarian aid to Gaza and acknowledging its role in regional stability. This occurred despite Netanyahu having received warnings about Qatari funds being used for Hamas's military buildup.

Intelligence documents and testimonies cited in a September 18, 2026, investigation by Ynet and "Yedioth Ahronoth" revealed that since 2019, the Shin Bet, military intelligence (AMAN), and Egyptian representatives had warned Netanyahu about Qatari money being diverted for Hamas's military needs. This earlier investigation suggested that these funds, along with a separate secret channel, covered about half of Hamas's military wing's budget, information Netanyahu was allegedly aware of. Despite explicit objections from Shin Bet heads Nadav Argaman and Ronen Bar, the transfers continued.

Time's investigation adds to this by detailing Israel's direct involvement in managing the funding. The magazine's reporting is based on official materials, correspondence between Israeli and Qatari officials, and interviews with involved Israeli and American officials and diplomats. Netanyahu's office declined to comment on Time's inquiry. A former Israeli security official described the policy, pursued by multiple prime ministers, as a well-intentioned but failed initiative, with Netanyahu playing a central role in its promotion and execution.

Qatar began transferring funds to Gaza in 2007 after Hamas took control. Initially, Israel was not directly involved. Under Netanyahu, starting in 2012, his government facilitated mechanisms for food and medical supplies, verified recipients of cash aid, and funded electricity projects. By 2018, Qatar had transferred approximately $1.1 billion to Gaza. Qatar began demanding official documentation of Israel's involvement due to the contradiction between public accusations and private requests to continue funding. A senior official from the first Donald Trump administration told Time that this duality frustrated Qatar.

In October 2018, an agreement was reached for Qatari funding of fuel supplies to Gaza, establishing a trilateral mechanism under Israeli and international oversight. Qatar paid for fuel and electricity, funded UN projects, and provided monthly aid to needy families. A July 2019 letter from Qatar informed the Netanyahu government of a $6 million transfer for 20,000 residents. Time noted it remains unclear how many recipients selected through the Israeli-involved mechanism were linked to Hamas.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ronen Levi, known as "Ma'oz," from the National Security Council, requested in writing that Qatar maintain humanitarian funding through Ambassador Mohammed al-Emadi, emphasizing cooperation for regional stability. In August 2021, Qatar signed another agreement for $40 million, providing $100 monthly to nearly 100,000 families for four months, with Israel reportedly vetting recipients and controlling the distribution.

Two weeks before the October 7 attacks, Mossad chief David Barnea visited Doha and requested a two-month extension of Qatari funding for Gaza, which Qatar agreed to, stating it was the final extension. Israel believed this aid would incentivize Hamas to avoid escalation, giving them something to lose. However, the Hamas attack occurred two weeks later, collapsing the system. Qatar had proposed altering the payment system in 2023 to reduce dependency on Israel or Hamas, but the Netanyahu government insisted on maintaining the existing mechanism. This policy was supported by successive Israeli governments, the US, UN, Palestinian representatives, and European countries.

In 2018, following a reduction in payments by Mahmoud Abbas, Netanyahu's government allowed cash to be brought into Gaza in suitcases, a move opposed by then-Education Minister Naftali Bennett. Netanyahu briefly suspended transfers in January 2019 as leverage against Hamas. Upon becoming prime minister in 2021, Bennett stopped the suitcase cash but maintained aid through other channels. Qatar was considering ending the program, but an Israeli representative assured a US envoy that significant changes were not planned.

The published documents do not directly link Qatari aid to the October 7 attack but raise questions about whether civilian payments strengthened Hamas's power and allowed it to divert resources to military aims. Qatar stated all aid was for civilians, processed through Israel and distributed by UN organizations in coordination with Israeli authorities, asserting that any diversion of funds to Hamas was Israel's responsibility. Netanyahu has denied intentionally strengthening Hamas to maintain a rift between Gaza and the Palestinian Authority, explaining that the aid was to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and ensure basic services. He attributed Hamas's armament to Iran. Current discussions involving former Trump administration officials Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff aim to restore basic services in Gaza without strengthening armed groups, focusing on creating economic opportunities for residents.