Qatar sent millions to Gaza for years with Israel’s backing?

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1. Since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel the Gulf state of Qatar has come under fire by Israeli officials.
2. American politicians and media outlets for sending hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Gaza which is governed by the Palestinian militant group.
3. Qatar has vowed not to stop those payments.
4. Qatari minister of state for foreign affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi told CNN’s Becky Anderson on Monday that his government will continue to make payments to Gaza to support the enclave as it has been doing for years.
5. We’re not going to change our mandate.
6. Our mandate is our continuous help and support for our brothers and sisters of Palestine.

When did the Qatar payments start?

1. Qatar began making monthly payments to the Gaza Strip.
2. Some $15 million were sent into Gaza in cash-filled suitcases delivered by the Qataris through Israeli territory after months of negotiation with Israel.
3. The payments started after the Palestinian Authority the Palestinian government in the Israeli occupied West Bank that is a rival of Hamas.
4. The PA opposed the Qatari funding at the time which Hamas said was meant for the payment of public salaries as well as medical purposes.
5. The US was aware of the Qatari payments to Hamas a former senior State Department official involved in the region told CNN on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

What backlash has Qatar faced?

1. Qatar maintains close ties with both Hamas and Western states including the United States.
2. It has come under harsh criticism for allowing the Iran-backed group to establish a political office in Doha which has been operative since 2012.
3. But it has also proven useful to Israel having played a leading role in the release of hostages kidnapped on October 7 and held by Hamas in Gaza.
4. But some Israeli officials have pointed to Qatar as among those responsible for the attack saying the Gulf Arab state is supporting Hamas.
5. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen accused Qatar of financing Hamas and harboring its leaders in October.
6. Qatar which finance and harbor of Hamas leaders could influence and enable the immediate and unconditional release of all of all hostages held by the terrorists.
7. You members of the international community should demand Qatar to do just that Cohen said at a high-level UN meeting.
8. Qatar has rejected accusations made by Israeli officials warning that these provocative statements could undermine mediation efforts and even endanger lives.
9. Qatar denies that those funds were intended for Hamas saying they are meant as aid to pay salaries of workers in the besieged enclave.
10. The State Department official said that while the US has always been wary of Qatar’s ties with Hamas.
11. As well as with the criticism from both inside and outside the US about sending money to Gaza through the militant group it was clear that Qatar had the most leverage with the group.