TIME investigation reveals how Israel helped funnel $2 billion in Qatari funds to Hamas-run Gaza
A TIME investigation based on undisclosed documents reveals that successive Israeli governments oversaw the transfer of approximately $2 billion from Qatar to Gaza over more than a decade. Israeli security officials coordinated the aid mechanism and vetted recipients. Despite public criticism of Qatar's ties to Hamas, the Netanyahu government privately urged Doha to maintain these payments. Mossad chief Yossi Cohen wrote to the Qatari emir in 2020 to thank him for the assistance. These transfers continued even after warnings about Hamas and prior to the October 7 attacks.
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- ✓ Israel helped funnel about $2 billion in Qatari funds to Gaza over more than a decade.
- ✓ Israeli officials vetted the recipients of the funds.
- ✓ The Netanyahu government privately urged Qatar to keep funding Gaza despite public criticism.
- ✓ Mossad chief Yossi Cohen thanked the Qatari emir for the assistance in a 2020 letter.
What changed
TIME published an investigation using previously undisclosed letters to detail Israeli coordination of Qatari payments.
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Israel helped funnel $2 billion in Qatari funds to Hamas-run Gaza
A TIME investigation based on undisclosed documents reveals that successive Israeli governments oversaw the transfer of approximately $2 billion from Qatar to Gaza over more than a decade. Israeli security officials coordinated the aid mechanism and vetted recipients. Despite public criticism of Qatar's ties to Hamas, the Netanyahu government privately urged Doha to maintain these payments. Mossad chief Yossi Cohen wrote to the Qatari emir in 2020 to thank him for the assistance. These transfers continued even after warnings about Hamas and prior to the October 7 attacks.
Why it matters
The funding mechanism aimed to stabilize Gaza but created a paradox where Israel managed the flow of cash to a territory ruled by its enemy. This reveals a gap between Israel's public stance on Hamas funding and its private security strategies.
What is confirmed
- Israel helped funnel about $2 billion in Qatari funds to Gaza over more than a decade.
- Israeli officials vetted the recipients of the funds.
- The Netanyahu government privately urged Qatar to keep funding Gaza despite public criticism.
- Mossad chief Yossi Cohen thanked the Qatari emir for the assistance in a 2020 letter.
- Israeli security officials coordinated the Gaza aid mechanism with Qatar.
What to watch next
- Official responses from the Israeli government regarding the TIME documents
- Further disclosures of letters between Mossad and Qatari leadership
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (9)
- Ynetnews — TIME investigation reveals how Israel helped funnel $2 billion in Qatari funds to Hamas-run Gaza
- Time Magazine — Exclusive: Documents Show How Israel Steered Qatari Payments to Gaza
- The Times of Israel — Documents show how Israel oversaw flow of Qatari money to Hamas-controlled Gaza — report
- Haaretz — Report: Israel backed Qatar transferring funds to Hamas-ruled Gaza before Oct. 7
- The Jerusalem Post — Israel urged Qatar to continue Gaza funding despite public criticism, documents reveal
- www.israelhayom.com — Documents reveal Netanyahu government asked Qatar to keep funding Gaza
- www.ynetnews.com — TIME investigation reveals how Israel helped funnel $2 ...
- www.israel.com — Time documents show Israel helped move about $2 billion from ...
- www.jfeed.com — Israel Oversaw $2 Billion Qatar-Gaza Transfer — TIME Report ...
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