Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly defended Israel’s bombing of Qatar and rejected allegations that Qatari financial aid to Gaza was diverted to militants, in remarks made during an interview with i24NEWS shared on social media over the weekend.
Addressing the September 2025 strike on Doha that killed five Hamas operatives and a Qatari security official, Netanyahu described Qatar as a “hostile” nation that does not dictate Israeli policy. “I attacked Qatar, I also bombed it and attacked them during the war, and they attacked me,” he said, framing the action as retaliation.
The comments arrive days before the first anniversary of the strike on the Qatari capital. The attack drew widespread international condemnation, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres labeling it a “flagrant violation” of Qatar’s sovereignty. Regional leaders from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE visited Doha shortly after to demonstrate solidarity, while Iran and Pakistan also denounced the assault.
Qatari officials have consistently condemned the bombing. Majed al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, called the strike a “cowardly” breach of international law. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, stated last year that claims linking Qatari funds to Hamas were baseless, emphasizing that all aid reached civilians through a transparent process monitored by the United States.
Netanyahu also addressed domestic criticism regarding the millions of dollars in Qatari funds transferred to Gaza through Israeli facilitation. He asserted that security agencies Mossad and Shin Bet recommended the transfers for humanitarian purposes. “All this money is worth 2 percent – 2 percent of all the money that entered the Strip,” Netanyahu claimed.
Critics within Israel have alleged that these funds contributed to the organizational capabilities behind the October 7, 2023 attacks. Qatar denies these accusations, maintaining its aid was strictly overseen.
The remarks come weeks before Israel’s general election on October 27, the first vote since the war in Gaza began in 2023. Netanyahu faces increasing domestic pressure concerning the handling of the conflict, economic challenges, and tensions with Iran. Analysts suggest the prime minister has a history of escalating regional tensions to bolster nationalist support ahead of elections.
I’m surprised by the boldness of calling Qatar a hostile state after such widespread global condemnation of the Doha strike.
Bombing a sovereign nation and then calling it self-defense? That’s a dangerous precedent for international law.
Qatar has repeatedly denied diverting funds. Netanyahu’s claims seem to ignore the US-monitored transparency measures entirely.
The timing is suspicious.escalating tensions right before an election? Classic political maneuvering to rally nationalist support.