TIME investigation reveals how Israel helped funnel $2 billion in Qatari funds to Ham

Key Points:

• A TIME magazine investigation reveals Israel's direct involvement in facilitating nearly $2 billion in Qatari payments to Gaza over more than a decade, with Israeli governments under Prime Minister Netanyahu encouraging and overseeing the transfers despite public accusations against Qatar for financing Hamas.
• Intelligence documents show Netanyahu received warnings from Israeli and Egyptian agencies starting in 2019 that Qatari funds were being diverted to Hamas' military buildup, yet the funding continued, covering about half of Hamas' military wing budget.
• A 2020 letter from then-Mossad director Yossi Cohen praised Qatar's humanitarian aid to Gaza, despite Netanyahu's awareness of the funds contributing to Hamas' military capabilities, highlighting Israel's complex and covert cooperation with Qatar.
• The arrangement involved Israeli vetting of aid recipients and supervision of fund distribution, with Qatar financing fuel, electricity, and direct payments to Palestinian families through UN mechanisms, even as Israeli officials publicly criticized Qatar.
• The investigation suggests Netanyahu was central to maintaining and expanding the funding policy, which began under previous governments but was accelerated under his leadership, ultimately proving to be a failed approach amid ongoing security concerns.