Qatar denies funding Hamas after Israeli report claims Netanyahu ignored warnings over Gaza aid

Qatar's International Media Office denied reports from an Israeli media outlet, Yediot Aharonot, alleging that Qatar funded Hamas's military branch through humanitarian aid. Qatar stated these claims are politically motivated to deflect from Israeli domestic failures. The Yediot Aharonot report, published by Ronen Bergman, claimed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was repeatedly warned in 2019 about Qatari funds reaching Hamas. The Prime Minister's Office dismissed the report as "a collection of recycled lies" and an attempt to sabotage Netanyahu's re-election campaign, asserting that Netanyahu stopped Qatari grants during Operation Guardian of the Walls, which the subsequent Bennett-Lapid government restored. Qatar maintained it has "never provided money to Hamas," only assistance to Palestinian civilians in Gaza in coordination with Israeli and international bodies. Separately, Qatar signed an agreement with the UN to deliver 1.3 million liters of fuel to Gaza, continuing its aid program.