Qatar's financial support for Hamas, according to Israel's Netanyahu, validates a potential military strike
In a surprising turn of events, Israel conducted an attack on a Hamas meeting in Doha, Qatar on October 7, 2023. This marked the first such attack on a US ally by Israel. The attack was a response to the earlier attack by Hamas on Israel, which triggered the Gaza war. The bombing resulted in the death of six people, none of whom were the top Hamas officials Israel was targeting, according to both the militant group and Israeli sources. Qatar, which has no diplomatic ties with Israel, has been a mediator in efforts to achieve a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages captured by Palestinian militants. However, Qatar's ties with Hamas have been a subject of contention, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justifying the strike due to these ties. The attack on Doha sparked an emergency summit of the Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, bringing together nearly 60 countries. During the summit on Monday, September 16, 2025, countries including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey expressed the need for harsh measures against Israel. The Israeli media has reported an ongoing investigation into allegations of Qatari influence in Netanyahu's office, dubbed as "Qatargate". Two of Netanyahu's aides are being investigated by the Shin Bet internal security agency for allegedly receiving payments from Qatar. However, the nature of the payments and the identities of the aides under investigation have not been disclosed. The "Qatargate" investigation has not been reported to have affected the overall relationship between Israel and Qatar, or led to any significant changes in Qatari policy towards Israel. The Israeli government has not publicly commented on the "Qatargate" investigation or the allegations of Qatari influence. Netanyahu was called to testify in the "Qatargate" investigation in March, but he denounced it as a "political witch hunt". The investigation is ongoing, and it is unclear if any charges have been filed or if any of the individuals involved have been indicted. The Israeli media has also linked the cabinet's dismissal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and attempts to fire Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to their role in the "Qatargate" investigation. Despite the ongoing investigation and the controversy surrounding it, Qatar has continued to send millions of dollars in monthly cash handouts and aid to Hamas-run Gaza, with the approval of Netanyahu's cabinet at the time between 2018 and 2023. This has raised questions about the possibility of Qatari influence in Netanyahu's office. The unprecedented attack on a Hamas meeting in Doha has sparked international outcry and further strained relations between Israel and its allies in the region. As the "Qatargate" investigation continues, the implications for Israel's relations with Qatar and the broader Middle East remain uncertain.
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