Qatar Rejects Shin Bet Allegations of Funding Hamas

Qatar has firmly denied accusations from Israel’s Shin Bet security service, asserting that its humanitarian aid to Gaza was misrepresented as support for Hamas.​

In a recent comprehensive investigation into the tragic events of October 7, Shin Bet identified Qatar as a significant financier of Hamas, suggesting that funds from Doha bolstered the terrorist organization. Qatar responded robustly, labeling these allegations as “false” and accusing Israeli officials of using diversionary tactics for political survival.

A statement from Qatar’s Ministry of Communication emphasized the nation’s longstanding humanitarian support for the Palestinian people, including essential supplies like food, medicine, and electricity for Gaza residents. Qatar highlighted that all assistance was provided with full knowledge and oversight from both current and previous Israeli governments and their security agencies, including Shin Bet.

Qatar clarified that its aid never reached Hamas’s political or military branches. Humanitarian funds were coordinated with the UN’s Middle East peace process envoy and transferred directly to beneficiaries through UN-approved programs.

In light of these allegations, Qatar urged Israeli security agencies to focus on rescuing remaining hostages and pursuing long-term regional security solutions, rather than deflecting blame onto Qatar for political reasons. They dismissed claims linking Qatari aid to Hamas as entirely unfounded and indicative of a desire to prolong the conflict.

Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev criticized Shin Bet’s investigation, suggesting it deflected responsibility and failed to address internal shortcomings. She expressed disappointment over the lack of accountability for the failures leading up to the October 7 events.

Shin Bet acknowledged its failure to anticipate the October 7 attack, stating that Hamas launched a wide-scale assault at 6:29 AM, which the agency did not identify as such. They committed to a thorough and responsible investigation, involving internal reviews and an independent committee of former senior officials, to scrutinize all aspects of the agency’s operations. ​

The findings and ensuing reactions have sparked a significant debate within Israel regarding the adequacy of intelligence and preparedness leading up to the tragic events of October 7.