Qatar denies funding Hamas, says Israel oversaw Gaza aid transfers

Qatar has vehemently denied allegations of funding Hamas, asserting that its aid to Gaza was exclusively for Palestinian civilians and coordinated with Israeli authorities and international partners. The Qatari International Media Office stated, "To be clear, Qatar’s assistance has been directed to Palestinian civilians in Gaza through mechanisms coordinated with the Israeli authorities and international partners." They claim all financial assistance and goods passed through Israel, with Israeli security agencies involved for years, and that any diversion of funds would be Israel's responsibility. This denial follows a New Yorker report on alleged Qatari influence and a separate Ynet investigation claiming Israeli intelligence warned Prime Minister Netanyahu about Qatari funds being diverted to Hamas's military wing since 2019. Netanyahu's office rejected the Ynet investigation, stating the security establishment supported the Qatari assistance for civilian purposes and that he halted cash payments in May 2021, a policy later restored by subsequent governments.