Qatar Responds to Allegations from Israeli Media Reports Including Providing Funds to Hamas

The Qatari authorities expressed their rejection on Friday of claims reported in Israeli media regarding the humanitarian aid provided by Doha to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, denying any financial amounts given to Hamas. This was stated in a statement issued by the International Media Office in Qatar, which expressed "the State of Qatar's categorical rejection of the false reports circulating in Israeli media regarding the Qatari humanitarian aid provided to the brotherly Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, and confirms that the allegations contained therein are completely unfounded.

The office points out that the repetition of these allegations by parties in the extreme Israeli right and political figures comes in the context of ongoing attempts to distort the Qatari role and divert attention from internal political failures by dragging the name of the State of Qatar into Israeli political disputes." The statement continued: "The office confirms that the State of Qatar has never provided funds to Hamas, and that its support has been directed to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, especially the most needy families, and to provide basic needs such as food, medicine, fuel, and electricity.

These aids have been provided through clear and transparent mechanisms, in full coordination with the United Nations and the Israeli authorities. In the framework of previous aid mechanisms, all financial assistance, as well as food, medicine, and fuel, passed through Israel before entering the Gaza Strip, and the State of Qatar did not directly handle their delivery, but rather United Nations organizations undertook this in coordination with the Israeli authorities."

He added: "Qatari aid has, for years, been known, supported, and approved by successive Israeli governments, with the participation of their security agencies, within known and documented mechanisms for all concerned parties. In this context, it is confirmed that any funds that may have reached Hamas outside the framework of these mechanisms are in no way related to the State of Qatar or its humanitarian assistance..

The office indicates that the State of Qatar has been subjected for several years to a systematic campaign to tarnish its reputation, involving pro-Israel media, lobbying groups, lawyers, research centers, and entities presenting themselves as research institutions. With the elections approaching in Israel, this campaign is witnessing a noticeable escalation, amid attempts by some political parties to exploit the name of the State of Qatar in internal disputes and divert attention from their failures.

The office confirms that the State of Qatar, while not interfering in Israel's internal affairs, firmly rejects the use of its name or the employment of false claims against it to achieve internal political purposes." The statement added: "The office emphasizes that these campaigns and misleading allegations will not deter the State of Qatar from continuing its humanitarian support for the brotherly Palestinian people, especially in light of the catastrophic humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip, and it will continue its efforts in cooperation with its international partners to ensure the sustainable and unobstructed flow of humanitarian aid to the sector..

The office reiterates the commitment of the State of Qatar to continue mediation and diplomatic efforts aimed at establishing a ceasefire and achieving just and sustainable peace."