Qatar has strongly denied accusations from Israel’s domestic security agency Shin Bet, which linked Qatari funds to the strengthening of Hamas’s military wing before the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
In a statement on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, Qatar’s International Media Office called the claims false and an attempt by Israel to deflect attention from its failings in preventing the attack.
Shin Bet’s internal probe, published on Tuesday, acknowledged the agency’s failure to prevent the unprecedented assault from Gaza, which triggered ongoing conflict in the region.
The report also mentioned that the transfer of Qatari funds to Gaza contributed to Hamas’s military buildup, which allegedly helped facilitate the attack.
Qatar responded by stressing that all of its aid to Gaza has been conducted with the full knowledge and supervision of both current and previous Israeli administrations and their security agencies, including Shin Bet.
The Gulf nation denied that any of its assistance was directed to Hamas’s political or military wing.
Since hosting Hamas’s political office in 2012, Qatar has faced accusations of supporting the Palestinian group, though it has repeatedly denied these claims.
The country has also played a significant role in mediating peace efforts, including securing a temporary ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, alongside the United States and Egypt.
Qatar’s statement called on Israeli security agencies to focus on securing the release of remaining hostages and finding a long-term solution to the conflict rather than engaging in what it described as diversionary tactics.