Israel has played a key role in this process by establishing a mechanism for Qatar's humanitarian aid to Gaza. According to new documents that have been released, Israeli governments in recent years have facilitated and maintained Qatar's humanitarian aid payments to Gaza, despite public criticism of this program.
Israel's Role in Qatar's Humanitarian Payments
According to a new report, senior Israeli security officials have privately supported Qatar's humanitarian aid payments to Gaza, and letters to Qatari leaders indicate that Israel has had a direct role in this program. These documents show that since 2012, the Netanyahu government has established a system that allows Israel to intervene in the distribution of food and medicine and to determine which Palestinian families are eligible to receive aid. In this context, Israel has reviewed the aid recipients and monitored the distribution.Read more: Election debate in Brazil: Lula and Bolsonaro exchanged accusations
This cooperation has been significantly more than what Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, has publicly stated. The report also emphasizes that this funding has been specifically allocated for humanitarian aid, fuel, and government salaries.
Qatar's Position and Response to Criticism
Qatar has denied allegations regarding financing Hamas, stating that its humanitarian aid is solely dedicated to Palestinian citizens and is provided through mechanisms coordinated with Israel and international partners. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, stated in an interview that no Qatari money has entered Gaza without full coordination and consent from the Israeli government and the United Nations.He also noted that no aid has been provided directly by Qatar and that all assistance has been carried out through United Nations organizations and in coordination with Israeli officials. Qatar has emphasized that if any funding has reached Hamas, the responsibility lies with Israel, which has overseen the delivery and established the mechanism.
The report also refers to a letter from Yossi Cohen, the then head of Mossad, to the Emir of Qatar, in which Qatar's humanitarian efforts to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza were praised. Critics have claimed that Netanyahu seeks to maintain Hamas's governance in Gaza to divide the Palestinians while continuing to normalize relations with Arab countries without resolving the Palestinian issue.
Ultimately, financial agreements between Qatar, Israel, and the United Nations were officially established in October 2018 and included a mechanism for managing aid with international and Israeli oversight. Over time, these collaborations have led to other agreements aimed at providing cash assistance to Palestinian families.
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