Time Magazine Exposes Israel's Role in Qatar-Gaza Funds Transfers
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS by baba
A Time magazine investigation details Israel's significant role in facilitating Qatari financial aid to Gaza over many years, including direct involvement approved under Benjamin Netanyahu's government. Despite public criticism, successive Israeli governments, including Naftali Bennett's, continued the transfers. Two weeks before October 7th, Mossad chief David Barnea requested Qatar renew funding, arguing it provided leverage over Hamas.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Time magazine revealed Israel's extensive role in managing Qatari financial aid to Gaza over the years.
- A 2020 letter from then-Mossad chief Yossi Cohen thanked Qatar for its humanitarian aid to Gaza.
- The payment system, started in 2007, gained Israeli government approval for direct involvement by 2012.
- Israel's National Security Council pushed Qatar to continue payments during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
- Naftali Bennett continued the transfers despite his public criticism, reportedly for domestic political reasons.
- Mossad chief David Barnea requested renewed funding from Qatar two weeks before October 7th.
A comprehensive investigation by Time magazine has revealed the extent of Israel's involvement in facilitating Qatari financial transfers to the Gaza Strip over the years. The report highlights that this cooperation was evident in a 2020 letter from then-Mossad chief Yossi Cohen to the Emir of Qatar, expressing gratitude for Qatar's humanitarian aid to Gaza and its role in improving the humanitarian situation and ensuring regional stability.
The payment arrangement, which began in 2007 after Hamas seized control of Gaza under Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, received support from successive Israeli governments, the Palestinian Authority, the Trump and Biden administrations, the UN, and European powers, according to sources in both U.S. administrations. Israel's direct involvement increased during Benjamin Netanyahu's tenure, with his government approving a mechanism by 2012 that allowed Israel to play a direct role in the Qatari fund transfers.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Israel's National Security Council (NSC) urged Qatari officials to continue payments despite public criticism from the Israeli government, emphasizing the importance of the aid for maintaining stability and security. Even Naftali Bennett, who was a vocal critic of the arrangement, continued the transfers, with Israeli officials reportedly telling a Biden envoy that they wished to proceed as usual, suggesting Bennett's criticisms were aimed at his domestic audience.
Just two weeks before the October 7th attacks, Mossad chief David Barnea traveled to Doha to request Qatar renew its funding, according to a 2023 New York Times report cited in the investigation. Qatari officials agreed but warned it would be the final extension, believing the arrangement had run its course due to tensions between far-right Israeli ministers and Hamas. Barnea requested an additional two months, arguing that continued aid to Gaza's civilians gave Hamas something to lose, thereby providing Israel leverage over the organization.
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