A 2020 document signed by a former senior official at the National Security Council revealed how Israel encouraged Qatar to transfer money to the Gaza Strip, despite knowing that significant sums were reaching Hamas, Israeli public broadcaster KAN News reported on Sunday.
The former senior official, Ronen Levy, known by his pseudonym "Maoz," who had previously worked for the Shin Bet, wrote, "Qatar works through the Gaza Reconstruction Committee and its chairman Alemadi (Mohammed Al Emadi) in an ongoing fashion to assist in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip by providing financial support to the people of Gaza and by leading civilian and infrastructure projects, in electricity, residential areas, civilian infrastructure, medicine, and support for the population."
Levy was later appointed by then-foreign minister Eli Cohen as the ministry's director-general and acted primarily as the liaison for Qatari funds.
"This humanitarian assistance has continued throughout the coronavirus crisis. It has been vital and has improved the humanitarian situation in Gaza during this complicated time," the letter continued. "Despite the many challenges involved in transferring the assistance, the cooperation and coordination between our countries has ensured that it continues to reach the people of Gaza."
"We reiterate the importance of continuing to transfer the Qatari humanitarian financial assistance through the existing mechanism, i.e., the Ambassador Alemadi and the Qatar Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza, in order to maintain the aforementioned excellent achievements," Levy wrote to the Qataris.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was also the prime minister at the time, defended the decision from 2018 to push Qatar to give money to Gaza.
Democrats party leader Yair Golan accused Netanyahu of being a Hamas asset and a "dangerous partner of its main sponsor, Qatar" on social media in response to the report on the letter.
"Netanyahu’s connection to Qatari money must be investigated and fully exposed," he said. "There can be no compromise on establishing a state commission of inquiry - the truth must be revealed."