Netanyahu boasts about bombing Qatar, says funds went to Gaza aid
Netanyahu described Qatar as a "hostile" state but said its influence had not dictated Israeli policy during the war in Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his government's role in facilitating Qatari funds to the Gaza Strip and boasted about Israel's 2025 strike on Doha in an interview with Israeli broadcaster i24NEWS.
Netanyahu described Qatar as a "hostile" state but said its influence had not dictated Israeli policy during the war in Gaza, says Al Jazeera.
"I attacked Qatar, I also bombed it and attacked them during the war, and they attacked me," Netanyahu said.
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His comments referred to an Israeli strike on Doha on 9 September 2025, that killed five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer. The strike took place during a meeting to discuss a US-backed proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Qatar has hosted Hamas's political office in Doha since 2012, saying it did so at the request of the United States.
The strike drew international condemnation. Majed al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar's foreign ministry, described it as a "cowardly" assault and a "blatant violation of all international laws and norms".
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denounced the strikes as a "flagrant violation" of Qatar's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Leaders from Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia visited Doha in solidarity with Qatar, while Iran and Pakistan were among countries that also condemned the attack.
Later in September 2025, Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump held a joint call with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani to apologise for the strike.
Netanyahu also defended Israel's facilitation of millions of dollars in Qatari funds into Gaza, rejecting accusations that the money helped Hamas's military operations.
He said the funds were intended solely for humanitarian purposes and had been transferred with the approval of Israel's security agencies, Mossad and Shin Bet.
"All this money is worth 2 percent – 2 percent of all the money that entered the Strip," Netanyahu said.
Critics have argued that the funds helped Hamas prepare for its 7 October 2023, attack on Israel. Qatar has strongly denied funding Hamas.
"Today, when they [Israel] are claiming that this is the financing of Qatar to Hamas, it has no basis," Sheikh Mohammed said.
"All our aid … went to Gaza, went to the people, and was under a very transparent process that the United States is fully aware about," he said.
Netanyahu's comments came weeks before Israel's general election, scheduled for 27 October, the first since the Gaza war began in 2023.
He is facing domestic pressure over his government's handling of the Gaza war, the economy and the continuing conflict with Iran.
Critics and political analysts have said Netanyahu's rhetoric towards Qatar and other regional issues could be aimed at strengthening nationalist support ahead of the election.
