Qatar condemns Shin Bet for its ‘false accusations’, says no aid ever sent to Hamas
Qatar has condemned Israel’s Shin Bet security agency for its “false accusations” that Doha supplied aid to Hamas.
The International Media Office of the State of Qatar said the following in a statement on Wednesday:
False accusations made by the Shin Bet security agency linking Qatari aid to the October 7 attack are yet another example of deflection driven by self-interest and self-preservation in Israeli politics.
The State of Qatar is a strong supporter of the Palestinian people and has provided humanitarian support to families in Gaza over many years. Qatari aid has included essential supplies such as food and medicine, as well as the provision of electricity to power homes.
It is well known within Israel and internationally that all aid sent from Qatar to Gaza was transferred with the full knowledge, support, and supervision of the current and previous Israeli administrations and their security agencies – including the Shin Bet.
No aid has ever been delivered to Hamas’s political or military wing. For example, the mechanism for aid to families involved close coordination with the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO), with funds transferred to the World Food Programme. Funds were subsequently transferred directly to beneficiaries through programmes approved by Israel.
In addition, Qatari-funded fuel was coordinated with the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and transferred through the Kerem Shalom [Karem Abu Salem] commercial crossing, which is the only designated crossing in Israel for the entry of goods into Gaza.
At this critical juncture, the Shin Bet and other Israeli security agencies should focus on saving the remaining hostages and finding a solution that ensures long-term regional security, rather than resorting to diversionary tactics such as scapegoating Qatar for political longevity. Claims that Qatari aid went to Hamas are entirely false and serve as evidence that the accusers are intent on prolonging the war.
Despite these unwarranted attacks, Qatar will continue to mediate towards peace because of its belief in diplomacy as the only way forward to a better future for both Palestinians and Israelis.
UN food agency says it has 2 weeks’ worth of supplies in Gaza
The UN food agency says it only has enough food supplies in the Gaza Strip to keep public kitchens and bakeries open for less than two weeks after Israel halted the entry of food, fuel, medicine and other supplies.
Rights groups have accused Israel of committing crimes against humanity by blocking aid delivery into the enclave. Israel has also been accused of reneging on the Gaza ceasefire that ended its brutal 15 months of war on the enclave.
Israel allowed humanitarian aid during the first six weeks of the ceasefire. But the World Food Program said on Wednesday that its stocks are low because it prioritised delivering food to the population.
The UN agency also warned that its fuel stocks would only last for a few weeks.
South Africa accuses Israel of using ‘starvation as weapon of war’
South Africa is the latest country to denounce Israel for cutting off aid into Gaza, which it said is further proof it is weaponising “starvation” against Palestinians.
“South Africa strongly condemns the refusal of Israel to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and its closure of border crossings at a time when the people of Gaza are experiencing immeasurable suffering and urgently need food, shelter and medical supplies,” said South Africa’s foreign ministry in a press statement.
“Preventing food from entering Gaza is a continuation of Israel’s use of starvation as a weapon of war as part of the ongoing campaign of what the ICJ [International Court of Justice] ruled to be plausible genocide against the Palestinian people.”
Back in January 2024, South Africa brought a genocide case against Israel to the ICJ. The court issued a binding order for Israel to stop acts of genocide by scaling up humanitarian aid.
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