Qatar Dismisses Israeli Allegations Regarding Gaza Aid as Politically Motivated

Qatar's International Media Office has firmly rejected recent claims circulating in Israeli media suggesting that humanitarian aid delivered by the Gulf state to Gaza was diverted to Hamas. In an official statement issued on Friday, the office denounced the reports as 'categorically false.'

The International Media Office (IMO) stated that these claims are being driven by elements of Israel's far right and political figures attempting to use Qatar as a scapegoat to divert attention away from domestic political failures. 'Qatar has never provided money to Hamas,' the statement emphasized, explaining that all assistance for Palestinian civilians in Gaza was channeled through strict mechanisms coordinated directly with Israeli authorities and international partners.

According to the IMO, under previous aid frameworks, all financial support and goods—including medicine, food, and fuel—traveled through Israel before reaching Gaza, with final distribution managed by United Nations organisations in full coordination with Israeli authorities. 'Nothing was delivered directly by Qatar,' the statement clarified.

The IMO also pointed out that Qatar's assistance had previously garnered public backing from Israeli leaders and was maintained over many years across successive Israeli governments alongside Israel's security agencies. Any funding that might have ended up outside these official channels had no connection to Qatar.

Furthermore, the statement highlighted that Qatar has faced an ongoing campaign over several years involving pro-Israel media, lobbyists, lawyers, think tanks, and research organizations, which is reportedly intensifying ahead of upcoming Israeli elections. While stating that Qatar prefers to stay out of Israel's domestic politics, the IMO affirmed that it will not remain silent against false accusations.

Concluding the statement, the IMO asserted that these allegations will not derail Qatar's ongoing support for Palestinians or its diplomatic mediation efforts, noting that Doha remains dedicated to mediation and diplomacy to secure lasting peace and security in the region. Qatar has consistently denied similar accusations in the past and has hosted Hamas’s political office in Doha since 2012 with United States backing, serving as a key mediator during the conflict.