Leaked Critic Footage Suspected Of PM Netanyahu: Qatar Says Weakening Negotiations, Israel Blames Doha

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Source: Noam Moscowitz/Knesset Spokesperson)

JAKARTA - Qatar assessed that leaked footage of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's suspicion that the country was problematic, could hinder and weaken the war mediation process in Gaza.

"We are shocked by the alleged statements attributable to the Prime Minister of Israel in various media reports about the role of Qatar mediation," said Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari, via social media platform X.

"If the reported statement is true, the Israeli Prime Minister will only obstruct and weaken the mediation process, citing reasons that seem to benefit his political career rather than prioritizing saving innocent lives, including Israeli hostages," he wrote.

In leaked footage of a meeting with the hostages' families broadcast on the Israel Channel 12 news channel on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Qatar a problem.

"You've never seen me thank Qatar, have you ever realized it? I haven't thanked Qatar yet. Why? Because Qatar, for me, is basically no different from the UN, with the Red Cross, and in some ways it's even more problematic. But now I'm willing to use any mediator who can help me take them (the hostages) home."

When asked to comment on Qatar's statement and whether the leaked footage was genuine, an Israeli government spokesman said Israel "was unable to explain in detail the efforts and steps taken to free the hostages."

In the tape, Netanyahu went on to say that Qatar had an influence on Hamas as they funded the movement. He told the hostages' families he recently "became very angry with America" for renewing the deal to expand US military presence at a base in Qatar.

In response, a Qatari spokesman said in a statement: "Instead of worrying about Qatari's strategic relations with the United States, we hope Netanyahu decides to act in good faith and concentrate on releasing the hostages."

Meanwhile, Israel's far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, accused Doha of "supporting and funding terrorism."

Smotrich said in X, Qatar was "mostly responsible" for Hamas-led attacks on the southern Israeli community on October 7, calling on Western countries to put greater pressure on the hostages to be released immediately.

"One clear thing: Qatar will not engage in what happened in Gaza the day after the war," Smotrich wrote.

Qatar is known to have acted as the main mediator between the militant group that controls Gaza and Israeli officials in the conflict.

In November, Qatar helped secure a seven-day hiatus in fighting, in which 110 Israeli and foreign hostages were released from Gaza in exchange for 240 Palestinians released from Israeli prisoners.