Time magazine reports on Netanyahu's role in Qatari funding of Gaza

A new investigation by Time magazine, authored by Eric Cortellessa, reveals that the Israeli government under Benjamin Netanyahu played an active, coordinating role in the transfer of nearly $2 billion in Qatari funds to the Gaza Strip over the past decade. Previously unpublished documents suggest that Israeli authorities went beyond merely approving the transfers, actively managing the mechanism that supplied humanitarian aid, fuel, electricity, and financial support to Palestinian families.

The funding initiative began in 2007 under Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, but the system became more structured under Netanyahu starting around 2012. The Israeli government reportedly exercised control over delivery logistics for essential goods and defined the lists of beneficiary families, effectively overseeing a tripartite mechanism involving the UN and the United States. While initially informal, this arrangement evolved to facilitate large-scale financial flows into the enclave, a policy that is currently under scrutiny ahead of the upcoming Israeli elections scheduled for October 27, 2026.

These disclosures provide insight into the complexities of Israel’s long-term policy regarding Hamas. The revealed correspondence from the Mossad and other official sources highlights the extent of state involvement in maintaining these financial lifelines shortly before the events of October 7, 2023.