Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of undermining peace efforts in the Gaza Strip during an interview on Saturday. Speaking with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Al-Thani attributed stalled progress on a ceasefire and related agreements to Netanyahu and his far-right government, which he said prioritized political gain over peace.
Al-Thani criticized Israel for failing to honor its commitments under an agreement reached in October 2025 in Sharm el-Sheikh. That deal, brokered by Egypt, aimed to establish a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and included terms for the release of Israeli hostages. According to Al-Thani, Israel has not adhered to the truce and continues to escalate its military presence, now occupying over 70% of the Gaza Strip, contrary to the withdrawal called for in the agreement. He also highlighted a significant shortfall in humanitarian aid deliveries, claiming that while the agreement mandates an average of 600 aid trucks daily, only about 150 are entering Gaza at present.
The Qatari prime minister described Netanyahu’s government as the primary obstacle to advancing the peace plan, stating that mediators from various parties are working diligently to uphold the agreement despite these setbacks.
Al-Thani responded to Israeli accusations that Qatar channels funds to Hamas’s military wing, denying any such transfers. He emphasized that all Qatari funding entering Gaza is conducted with the coordination and approval of both the United Nations and Israeli authorities, including agencies such as the Shin Bet and Mossad. Funds, he said, are strictly used for purchasing Israeli-supplied gas to power Gaza’s electricity plants and for supporting an approved list of impoverished Gazan families and government employees. These financial transfers, he added, are typically initiated by Israel rather than Qatar.
Addressing ongoing allegations of Qatari involvement in supporting Hamas’s armed activities, Al-Thani dismissed the claims as unfounded and described related reports as baseless.
He further contended that Israel has repeatedly postponed discussions on a long-term solution for Gaza due to domestic political considerations, specifically citing electoral cycles as a reason for delay. According to Al-Thani, Israeli officials were pressing for another funding round in Doha in the weeks leading up to the October 7 attack, contrasting with Netanyahu’s purported obstruction.
Al-Thani also referred to the “Qatagate” corruption scandal, labeling it absurd and asserting that Qatar would have avoided any such investment if wrongdoing had occurred.
In closing, the Qatari prime minister criticized former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s efforts to designate Qatar as an enemy state, noting that Bennett’s government had previously supported Qatar’s role in Gaza. He accused some Israeli politicians of exploiting Qatar as a political scapegoat to fuel internal divisions, a tactic he called unacceptable.
Al-Thani maintained that Qatar remains committed to de-escalating conflict in the region and that its mediation efforts have been consistently aimed at reducing violence, despite opposition and accusations.