Netanyahu Boasts of Bombing Qatar, Defends Transfer of Qatari Funds to Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an i24NEWS interview broadcast Sunday, September 6, 2026, referring to Israel's September 9, 2025 strike on Doha that killed five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer during ceasefire negotiations: 'I attacked Qatar, I also bombed it and attacked them during the war,' describing Qatar as a 'hostile' state that does not influence Israeli Gaza policy. Israel formally apologized to Qatar over the strike alongside President Trump in the aftermath. Netanyahu separately defended the transfer of millions of dollars in Qatari-funded aid to Gaza, which domestic critics allege helped enable Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, saying the transfers were humanitarian, recommended by Mossad and Shin Bet, and amounted to '2 percent of all the money that entered the Strip.' Qatar's Sheikh Mohammed has said the funds 'went to Gaza, went to the people, and was under a very transparent process.' The remarks come weeks ahead of Israel's October 27 elections, with Netanyahu facing domestic pressure over Gaza war management.