Netanyahu Ignored Warnings Over Qatari Funds to Hamas, Report Reveals

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ignored repeated intelligence warnings since 2019 that Qatari funds were directly financing Hamas's military wing, according to an investigative report published Friday by Ronen Bergman and Yuval Rubovitch in Yedioth Ahronoth. The report reveals that warnings from the Shin Bet, Aman, and Egyptian officials detailed how funds intended for humanitarian aid were diverted into a clandestine financial pipeline, ultimately financing roughly half of the Hamas military budget with Netanyahu's knowledge.

Political Reactions and Condemnations

Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman condemned the policy, recalling his resignation as defense minister when the Qatari cash transfers began. Lieberman stated that intelligence agencies explicitly warned the prime minister that the funds were reaching terrorists, leading directly to the catastrophe on October 7. Meanwhile, Democrats leader Yair Golan asserted that the investigation proves Netanyahu deliberately acted as a primary financier of Hamas despite knowing the severe security risks involved.

Netanyahu knew everything, and he chose to continue financing the murderous terrorist organization. This capital armed the Nukhba forces, built the tunnels, bought the weapons, and financed the training for the attack. - Yair Golan

The Prime Minister's Office rejected the report, labeling it a collection of recycled falsehoods aimed at influencing upcoming elections. The PMO maintained that all defense heads previously supported the humanitarian Qatari grants to maintain calm in Gaza, and noted that Netanyahu ordered the funding halted during Operation Guardian of the Walls in 2021.