Tom Nagorski and William Veale
The Israeli government approved millions of dollars in monthly payments to Hamas for years, including in the weeks just prior to the October 7 attack, according to a new investigation published Sunday by The New York Times.
David Barnes, head of Israel’a Mossad intelligence agency, met with officials of the government of Qatar just weeks prior to the Hamas attack and was asked by Qatari officials whether Israel wanted the long-running payments to continue. Barnea said yes, according to the report, which the Times said was based on interviews with dozens of sources in Israel, Qatar and the U.S.
Israeli leaders had calculated for years that support for the Hamas government in Gaza would keep the territory stable and ensure that Hamas militants would not strike out against Israel.
Yossi Kuperwasser, a former head of research for Israel’s military intelligence, told the Times that the policy was based on the hope of keeping an “equilibrium” in the Gaza Strip.
“The logic of Israel was that Hamas should be strong enough to rule Gaza, but weak enough to be deterred by Israel.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously, and vehemently, denied accusations that he allowed Qatar to pay the Hamas militants, calling the notion "ridiculous," according to a Nov. 28 Politico report.
The payments from Qatar to Hamas had specific humanitarian goals, according to the Times report, including paying government salaries and supplying fuel. However, Israeli intelligence now believes that money played a role in the success of Hamas' October attack on Israel.
Hamas terrorists killed over 1200 Israelis and kidnapped some 200 more during the surprise incursion on Oct. 7, attacking small kibbutzes, slaughtering civilians and sacking a music festival.
In response to Oct. 7, Israel has launched air and ground offensives into Gaza during which, according to the territory’s health ministry, more than 17,100 people have been killed.
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