Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani & Father Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani at Ismail Haniyeh's funeral alongside Hamas leadership (Source: Video Clip - @dohanews/X)
Qatari leaders (r) alongside Hamas leaders at Ismail Haniyeh's funeral (video snippet)

The Hard Truth: Shin Bet Puts Qatar On The Defensive

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Jay Engelmayer
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In what could only be described as a theatrical display of feigned indignation, the Islamist monarchy of Qatar has lashed out at Israel’s Shin Bet security agency for daring to state the obvious: that Qatari financial aid to Gaza directly enabled the October 7, 2023, massacre carried out by Hamas. The irony of this accusation is almost too rich, considering that Qatar has long served as Hamas’s chief financial sponsor and safe haven, all while masquerading as a diplomatic mediator.

For years, Qatar has been the golden goose of Hamas, lavishing the terror organization with an estimated $1.8 billion over the past decade. These funds, disbursed at a rate of approximately $30 million per month, were explicitly acknowledged by a Qatari official in an interview with the German publication Der Spiegel. Yet, despite openly bankrolling Hamas’s reign of terror, Qatar now has the audacity to feign outrage at Israel’s intelligence agency for merely acknowledging this well-documented reality.

Qatar’s Brazen Support for Terrorism

Shin Bet’s recently released report assessing its own failures in preventing the October 7 attack included an understated but significant reference to Qatar’s role in funding Hamas’s military buildup. This single mention was enough to send the oil-rich dictatorship into a frenzied tantrum, exposing its desperation to whitewash its well-established ties to the very jihadists responsible for the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.

Qatar’s latest attempt to maintain its illusion of neutrality is laughable at best and sinister at worst. The kingdom, which harbors Hamas leadership in luxury accommodations while ordinary Gazans suffer, has long positioned itself as an intermediary between Israel and Hamas. Yet, anyone with a shred of common sense understands that Qatar wields immense influence over the terror group. Were it truly invested in peace, Qatar could compel Hamas to release all remaining hostages in an instant. Instead, it continues to play both sides, pretending to be a peacemaker while fueling the flames of war.

Qatar’s Tentacles Extend Beyond Hamas

Qatar’s efforts to fulfill its Islamist ambitions are not limited to financing terror groups. The monarchy has infiltrated Western nations through its state-controlled media empire, Al Jazeera, which enjoys an outsized presence in the United States and the United Kingdom. Far from being a legitimate news agency, Al Jazeera operates as a sophisticated propaganda machine for the Qatari regime, spewing anti-Western and anti-Israel rhetoric while shielding Qatar’s deep ties to radical Islamist movements.

The network’s alignment with jihadist ideology is so blatant that it has been banned in multiple Arab Muslim nations—including Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia—for its dangerous incitement. Qatar’s affinity for radical Islam extends beyond its media empire; it is also a major patron of the Muslim Brotherhood, the ideological forefather of Hamas. While most Gulf states have outlawed the Muslim Brotherhood for its support of global terrorism, Qatar continues to provide it a safe haven and financial backing.

Al Jazeera’s Deep Ties to Hamas

In Gaza, Al Jazeera is not just a mouthpiece for Hamas; it actively collaborates with the terror group. The network distorts the situation on the ground to stoke anti-Israel sentiment while employing Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives who use their journalistic credentials as a front for terror activities.

A particularly damning case emerged in February 2024 when an Al Jazeera “journalist” was exposed as a Hamas commander. Footage revealed him not only participating in the October 7 attack but also celebrating it on his social media accounts. After he was severely injured in an IDF strike, Qatar managed to smuggle him out of Gaza through the Rafah crossing—despite Egypt claiming ignorance about the operation.

Hamas and Al Jazeera are so intertwined that criticizing the network within Gaza is a crime punishable by death. In July 2024, Wasim Asaad Al-Suwayr, a young Gazan man, was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered by Hamas for daring to denounce Al Jazeera’s role in spreading jihadist propaganda. His grieving family later released viral footage of his mutilated body to expose the brutality of the Islamist regime.

Qatar’s Shameless Lies

In an absurd statement issued by its International Media Office, Qatar dismissed Shin Bet’s assertions as “false accusations” and an example of “deflection driven by self-interest and self-preservation in Israeli politics.”

The statement went on to claim: “It is well known within Israel and internationally that all aid sent from Qatar to Gaza was transferred with the full knowledge, support, and supervision of the current and previous Israeli administrations and their security agencies – including the Shin Bet. No aid has ever been delivered to Hamas’s political or military wing.”

This blatant misrepresentation conveniently omits the undeniable reality: Hamas, which has ruled Gaza with an iron grip since 2007, directly controls the distribution of Qatari funds. The terror organization has long been documented diverting international aid for its war machine, building terror tunnels, rocket arsenals, and command centers beneath civilian infrastructure. Moreover, Qatar’s deep involvement goes far beyond mere cash transfers. The regime has facilitated the smuggling of weapons, explosives, and other lethal materials into Gaza, ensuring that Hamas remains armed to the teeth.

Qatar’s Attempt to Rewrite History

The statement concluded with a patronizing call for Israel to “focus on saving the remaining hostages and finding a solution that ensures long-term regional security, rather than resorting to diversionary tactics such as scapegoating Qatar for political longevity.”

Translation: Israel should ignore the undeniable role that Qatar played in financing the worst terror attack in its history and simply let Hamas off the hook. It is a stunning example of gaslighting, wherein the financier of terror attempts to position itself as a champion of diplomacy.

Qatar also laughably insists that its role as a mediator stems from a belief in “diplomacy as the only way forward to a better future for both Palestinians and Israelis.” If Qatar truly believed in peace, it would stop shielding Hamas’s leadership, halt its financial and logistical support for terrorism, and demand an immediate release of Israeli hostages. Instead, it continues to underwrite Hamas’s military operations while posturing as a neutral party.

Qatar Must Be Held Accountable

The world can no longer afford to turn a blind eye to Qatar’s duplicitous game. The kingdom is not a benevolent aid provider but a primary enabler of terror. It is high time for Western nations, particularly the United States, to reconsider their alliances and impose severe consequences on Qatar for its role in fueling instability and bloodshed in the region.

As Israel fights for its survival against barbaric jihadists, the global community must call out Qatar for what it truly is: the financier and protector of modern-day terrorism. No amount of diplomatic theater can erase the cold, hard facts. Qatar’s hands are stained with the blood of innocent Israelis, and no amount of propaganda will change that truth.

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