Accused of Funding Hamas, Qatar: Part of Israel's Full Oversight Mechanism

Majed Al-Ansari. (Twitter/@majedalasari)

JAKARTA - A senior Qatari official defended his state's transfer of funds to Gaza ahead of attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas last October, carried out at the behest of several Israeli officials who now say the money helped arm Hamas.

Advisor to Qatari Prime Minister Majed Al-Ansari told public broadcaster Kan that the aid was aimed at enabling Gazans to "live naturally" and that "prosperity is the only way out of the cycle of violence."

"However, I can tell you very clearly, all of this assistance is part of a mechanism that includes full supervision from Israel, full inspection from Israel, even if the families receive assistance of 100 US dollars through this process," he explained, as reported by from The Times of Israel, April 29.

Ansari further said Doha was "shocked" that officials who approached Qatar for the money were now accusing it of sending the money directly to Hamas, adding that the money was sent via Israel to Gaza.

"Incoming aid is also monitored by international organizations, and there is a clear vetting process for all families, and there is a clear reporting mechanism to Israeli agencies," he explained.

"And therefore, there are checkpoints and guarantees to ensure that no money goes elsewhere. This is done for humanitarian reasons. And the lack of peace and security that we are experiencing today is not the result of sending aid to the people of Gaza "This is the result of a lack of commitment to peace from both sides," he stressed.