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The International Media Office of the State of Qatar issued a statement on September 18, 2026, categorically rejecting reports in Israeli media that alleged its humanitarian assistance to Gaza had gone to Hamas. The office said these reports were fabricated and part of efforts by far-right elements and political figures in Israel to deflect from domestic political failures. It added that such claims sought to portray Qatar as a scapegoat amid ongoing Israeli political disputes, according to the statement.
The statement emphasized that Qatar has never provided money to Hamas at any time. Qatar’s support has instead been directed to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, especially the most needy families. This assistance aimed to supply basic requirements such as food, medicine, fuel and electricity through fully transparent channels.
According to the International Media Office, these mechanisms involved full coordination with the United Nations and the Israeli authorities. All financial aid along with shipments of food, medicine and fuel passed through Israel before reaching Gaza. United Nations organizations carried out the actual delivery in coordination with Israeli officials, the office reported.
Qatari humanitarian aid to Gaza has operated for years with the knowledge and support of successive Israeli governments and their security agencies, the statement noted. A report to Israeli ministers detailed that Qatar gave more than $1.1 billion to the Gaza Strip from 2012 to 2018, with Israeli approval. The figures included $200 million in 2018 alone for humanitarian aid, fuel and salaries.
The International Media Office pointed to a years-long campaign targeting Qatar that has involved pro-Israel media outlets, lobbyists, lawyers, think tanks and research organizations. This sustained effort has sought to tarnish Doha’s image and drag its name into Israeli internal politics, particularly as elections approach. The office described the latest reports as a continuation of these tactics.
Qatar has hosted Hamas’s political leadership in Doha since 2012 at the request of the United States to enable mediation and communication for ceasefires and aid delivery, previous Qatari statements have indicated. The country has maintained its role in regional diplomacy despite repeated accusations. Israeli officials have at times publicly acknowledged the value of Qatari aid in stabilizing Gaza prior to the current conflict.
