Newly revealed document shows Israel thanking Qatar for Gaza funds despite knowing they leaked to Hamas

Much has been said about the Qatari money that has been entering the Gaza Strip for years and has fueled Hamas’ military mechanisms. Kan News revealed documents on Sunday showing how far Israel went in courting the Qataris to transfer money into the Gaza Strip, despite knowing that a large part of the funds went to Hamas.

The first document revealed is a letter written in 2020 and signed by Ronen Levy, known as Ma’oz. At the time, Levy held a senior position in the National Security Council (NSC), had previously served in the Shin Bet, and was among the few who knew about and helped promote the Abraham Accords.

Later, he was appointed by Minister Eli Cohen to serve as Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Most notably, Levy was the Israeli liaison for the Qatari money.

The flattery letter to Qatar that Levy sent opens with the words: “Qatar acts tirelessly in order to help rehabilitate the Gaza Strip by providing economic support to Gaza residents and leading civilian projects – initiatives in electricity, civil infrastructure, healthcare, and humanitarian aid to the population.”

Levy, then a very senior official in the National Security Council and the person responsible for ties with Qatar, added in this flattering letter: “The humanitarian assistance continued throughout the coronavirus crisis. It was vital and improved the humanitarian situation in Gaza during that difficult period.”

This sentence essentially summarizes the "concept" adopted by the Israeli cabinet in 2018, which approved the transfer of cash into Gaza. Then–Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended that decision.

The document was written at a time when Israel’s policy was being criticized, in light of reports that much of the money was leaking to Hamas’s terror mechanisms. Despite warnings presented by several security officials to the political echelon, Israel placed its trust – literally its security – in Qatar.

“We request that Qatari economic assistance be transferred only through Ambassador Mohammed al-Emadi, and not via intermediaries or other countries,” Levy wrote in the document sent to the Qataris.

Alongside Levy, one of the mediators who led the connection with Qatar was Kamil Abu Rukun, then Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT). Abu Rukun regularly met with senior Qatari officials in coordination with the transfer of funds to Gaza. Another document revealed this evening by KAN News shows how the Qataris sent Abu Rukun a kind of invoice totaling six million dollars.

“This document serves as proof that the Qatari Committee for the Reconstruction of the Gaza Strip carried out all procedures according to the agreements,” wrote senior Qatari official Mohammed al-Emadi, inviting the Israeli representatives to contact him with any questions.