Netanyahu boasts about bombing Qatar, says Gaza funds used for aid

What the report says

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly defended Israel’s actions against Qatar and the flow of Qatari money into Gaza, according to Al Jazeera. In an interview with i24NEWS that he later shared on social media, Netanyahu said he had ordered or backed a strike on Qatar and described the Gulf state as hostile, even as he argued it could not shape Israeli policy during the war on Gaza.

The comments come shortly before the first anniversary of Israel’s September 9, 2025 strike in Doha, which killed five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer during a meeting tied to a US-backed ceasefire proposal. Al Jazeera reported that Qatar condemned the attack as a serious breach of international law, while several regional governments and the UN secretary-general also criticised it. Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump later called Qatar’s prime minister to apologise, the article said.

Netanyahu also rejected claims that money from Qatar, which Israel helped facilitate into Gaza, was diverted to Hamas. He said the transfers were intended for humanitarian needs and had been recommended by Israeli security agencies, including Mossad and Shin Bet. Qatar has denied allegations that it funded Hamas, saying its aid was subject to oversight and went to civilians in Gaza.

The remarks land ahead of Israel’s October 27 election and amid domestic pressure on Netanyahu over the Gaza war, the economy and regional tensions. Analysts cited by the outlet said he has often used confrontational foreign policy rhetoric to galvanise supporters before votes.