Exclusive TIME Documents Reveal Israel's Secret Approval and Oversight of Qatar's Gaza Aid

Exclusive documents obtained by TIME reveal that successive Israeli governments secretly approved and actively oversaw Qatar's humanitarian aid payments to Gaza, despite public criticism of the program. The findings, detailed in a TIME report by Eric Cortellessa, show that senior Israeli security officials privately supported these payments, with correspondence to Qatari leaders indicating Israel's direct involvement.

These documents challenge the narrative presented by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials, who have characterized the aid as a Qatari initiative that benefited Hamas. According to TIME, by 2012, Netanyahu's government had established a system that gave Israel a direct role in delivering food and medical supplies, determining eligible Palestinian families, and disbursing funds, often through the World Food Programme. TIME reports that Israel's role in this program was more extensive than publicly acknowledged by Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Letters acquired by TIME further underscore Israel's significant, yet under-disclosed, role in these payments. The funding was confirmed to be designated for humanitarian assistance, fuel, and government salaries, with Qatar having requested formal documentation confirming the arrangement's purpose of providing relief to citizens. TIME's report highlights that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government facilitated these Qatari payments, which amounted to over $1.1 billion by 2018.

This revelation comes amidst repeated accusations by Israel that Qatar finances Hamas. Notably, in a September 5 interview with i24NEWS, Netanyahu referred to Qatar as a "hostile state" and dismissed controversy over his government's ties with Doha as "one big bluff," while simultaneously defending the Qatari payments to Gaza as humanitarian and stating that Israel's security agencies, Mossad and Shin Bet, had recommended them.

Qatar has consistently rejected these claims, asserting that its assistance was intended for Palestinian civilians and was delivered through mechanisms coordinated with Israel and international partners. Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, stated in a September 27 interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour that no Qatari funds entered Gaza without the "full coordination and consent" of the United Nations and the Israeli government, refuting allegations that the funding reached Hamas's military wing.

A spokesperson for Qatar’s International Media Office reiterated that all Qatari financial assistance and goods, such as food, medicine, and fuel, passed through Israel before entering Gaza. The statement emphasized that Qatar provided the aid, while delivery was managed by UN organizations in coordination with Israeli authorities. The spokesperson added that if any funding reached Hamas, the responsibility lies with Israel, which oversaw the delivery and the mechanism.

The extent of Israel's cooperation was further illustrated by a 2020 letter from Yossi Cohen, then director of Mossad, to Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, expressing gratitude for Qatar's humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza and acknowledging their crucial role in improving the humanitarian situation and ensuring regional stability.

Critics have long argued that Netanyahu sought to "sustain Hamas rule in Gaza to keep the Palestinians divided" while pursuing normalization with Arab nations without resolving the Palestinian issue. Former Israeli defense officials have highlighted Netanyahu’s "central" role in the payment process, noting that Israeli officials would publicly denounce the payments while privately requesting their renewal from Doha. The arrangement was formalized through a trilateral mechanism involving Qatar, Israel, and the United Nations in October 2018.

In August 2021, Qatar signed another agreement committing $40 million to a cash assistance program for nearly 100,000 Palestinian households. U.S. officials were involved in discussions, with Qatar seeking to ensure Washington understood the system's operation to avoid potential accusations of financing Hamas without acknowledging Israel's role. Under the system, Qatar funded fuel and electricity purchased from Israel, with the process coordinated by Israeli security services. Funds were transferred through the World Food Programme, with Israel vetting recipients and overseeing distribution. A diplomat familiar with the arrangement told TIME, "If the money ever got in the wrong hands, it was because of the Israelis... because they were the ones overseeing the whole thing."

Israel's National Security Council urged Qatari officials to maintain payments in 2020, despite public criticism. R. L. Maoz, a member of Netanyahu’s National Security Council, wrote to Qatari officials, expressing appreciation for their cooperation in safeguarding regional stability. The program continued after Netanyahu left office, with his successor Naftali Bennett maintaining the flow of Qatari assistance despite earlier objections, which were reportedly for domestic political audiences.

According to TIME, Mossad director David Barnea traveled to Doha shortly before the October 7, 2023 attacks, requesting Qatar to renew its funding for Gaza. Qatari officials agreed but indicated it would be the final renewal. Barnea sought an additional two months, arguing that continued assistance provided Hamas with something to lose and Israel with leverage. However, the arrangement ended following Hamas’s Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023.

TIME reports that Qatar continues to collaborate with the U.S. and international partners on restoring basic services in Gaza. The article notes that a temporary ceasefire in January 2025 was followed by renewed Israeli bombardment, with significant destruction and casualties reported since October 7, 2023.