Ex-Mossad Chief Thanked Qatar Emir for Gaza Funds Amid Hamas Warnings
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
Former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen thanked Qatar's Emir in December 2020 for Gaza aid, despite prior warnings to Prime Minister Netanyahu that funds were reaching Hamas. Then-Shin Bet head Nadav Argaman had alerted leadership in mid-2019, with IDF Intelligence estimating Hamas leader Mohammed Deif diverted millions. Israeli officials, including from the National Security Council, facilitated the transfers, which totaled nearly $2 billion over the years. Current Mossad chief David Barnea reportedly sought an extension of aid just weeks before the October 7th attack.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen thanked Qatar's Emir for Gaza aid in December 2020.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu was warned that Qatari funds were reaching Hamas, according to reports.
- Then-Shin Bet head Nadav Argaman alerted leadership in mid-2019 about Hamas diverting funds.
- IDF Intelligence estimated Hamas leader Mohammed Deif was diverting millions from payments.
- Israeli officials facilitated the transfers, which totaled nearly $2 billion to Gaza.
- Current Mossad chief David Barnea sought an aid extension weeks before the October 7th attack.
Former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen sent a letter of thanks in December 2020 to the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, praising the financial aid to the Gaza Strip. This occurred after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had already been warned that some of the Qatari money was reaching Hamas, according to a report by TIME magazine and previous Israeli publications. In the letter, previously published in Israel and included in the TIME investigation, Cohen thanked the Emir for humanitarian assistance to Gaza, stating it improved the situation and maintained regional stability and security.
According to a Channel 12 report, as early as mid-2019, then-Shin Bet head Nadav Argaman alerted the political echelon that Mohammed Deif was taking control of some Qatari funds and channeling them to Hamas. In 2020, the IDF Intelligence Directorate also joined these warnings, estimating that Deif was diverting four million dollars from each payment installment. Further correspondence revealed in the TIME investigation indicates that Israeli officials worked to ensure the continuation of these funds.
A 2020 document shows Ronen Levy, known as "Ma'oz" from the National Security Council, requesting that Qatar continue its aid through the existing mechanism and via Qatari Ambassador Mohammed al-Emadi. The report claims Israel was involved not only in approving the money transfers but also in verifying the eligibility of Gazan families to receive aid and supervising its distribution.
Over the years, Qatar transferred nearly two billion dollars to Gaza for family assistance, salary payments, and funding for fuel and electricity. Contacts continued even leading up to the October 7th attack. According to a previous New York Times report cited by TIME, current Mossad chief David Barnea visited Doha two weeks before the attack, requesting a two-month extension of the aid. Qatar agreed but stated it would be the final extension. The Prime Minister's office declined to comment on the TIME report. In a previous interview with the magazine, Netanyahu argued the funds were intended to prevent a humanitarian collapse in Gaza and enable civilian services to continue.
Mentioned
