Indirect Israeli support for Hamas

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The Israeli support for Hamas refers to direct involvement by Israeli authorities from different periods in the rise and empowerment of Palestinian militant group Hamas.[1][2][3]

History[edit]

Origins[edit]

Assertions of Israeli support for Hamas date back to the late 1970s and early 1980s, a period marked by significant political upheaval in the Middle East. Former Israeli officials have openly acknowledged Israel's role in providing funding and assistance to Hamas as a means of undermining secular Palestinian factions such as the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Brigadier General Yitzhak Segev, who served as the Israeli military governor in Gaza during the early 1980s, admitted to providing financial assistance to Muslim Brotherhood, the precursor of Hamas, on the instruction of the Israeli authorities. The aim of the support was to weaken leftist and secular Palestinian organizations.[2]

Israel contributed to the construction of parts of Islamist politician Ahmed Yassin's network of mosques, clubs, and schools in Gaza, as well as the expansion of these institutions.[2]

Policy[edit]

Upon a visit to Israel from Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Turkish lawmaker Feyzi İşbaşaran [tr] in 1998, it was revealed that Netanyahu suggested Turkey to support Hamas. Netanyahu said "Hamas also has bank accounts for aid in banks, we help them too, you [Turkey] can help too."[4][5]

Israeli backing of Qatar sending millions of dollars to Gaza[edit]

Qatar started sending money to the Gaza Strip on a monthly basis in 2018. $15 million worth of cash-filled suitcases were transported into Gaza by the Qataris via Israeli territory. The payments commenced due to the 2017 decision by the Palestinian Authority (PA), an administration in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and rival to Hamas, to cut government employee salaries in Gaza. At the time, the PA objected to the funds, which Hamas said was intended for both medical and governmental salary payments. In August 2018, Israel's government approved the agreement.[6]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defended allowing transfer of millions of dollars to Hamas-run Gaza despite criticism from within his own government, including the education minister Naftali Bennet.[7] After the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, Netanyahu went on record denying the claims that he facilitated financing of Hamas in order to create a 'divide and conquer' situation. He also said that he transferred funds to avoid "humanitarian collapse" in Gaza.[8] Israeli intelligence officials believe that the money had a role in the success of 2023 Hamas-led attack.[9]

Work permits granted by Israel[edit]

Talks regarding expanding the amount of work permits Israel issued to Gazan laborers also included officials from Hamas. This kept money flowing into Gaza.[1]

Viewpoints and rebuttal[edit]

In an interview with Politico in 2023, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that "In the last 15 years, Israel did everything to downgrade the Palestinian Authority and to boost Hamas." He continued saying "Gaza was on the brink of collapse because they had no resources, they had no money, and the PA refused to give Hamas any money. Bibi saved them. Bibi made a deal with Qatar and they started to move millions and millions of dollars to Gaza."[10] At a party conference of Likud in 2019, Benyamin Netanyahu said: "Anyone who wants to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state needs to support strengthening Hamas."[11]

Prime minister Netanyahu responded to the accusations of funding and strengthening Hamas by calling it "ridiculous".[12]

Tool to disengage from peace talks[edit]

Shlomo Brom, retired general and former deputy to Israel's national security adviser, believes that an empowered Hamas helps Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu avoid negotiatings over a Palestinian state, suggesting that there is no viable partner for peace talks.[9] Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right lawmaker and finance minister under Netanyahu Government, called the Palestinian Authority a "burden" and Hamas an "asset".[13]

Professor Avner Cohen, a former Israeli religious affairs official, publicly acknowledged that Hamas was "Israel's creation."[14] Similar statesments have been made by Yasser Arafat.[15]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Schneider, Tal (8 October 2023). "For years, Netanyahu propped up Hamas. Now it's blown up in our faces". Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Sayedahmed, Dina (19 February 2018). "Blowback: How Israel Went From Helping Create Hamas to Bombing It". The Intercept. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  3. ^ Ahmatović, Šejla (19 January 2024). "EU's top diplomat accuses Israel of funding Hamas". Politico. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Revealing Israel's Strategic Vision in Supporting Hamas: Insights from Turkish Ex-Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz's 1998 Visit". politurco.com. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  5. ^ Feyzi Isbasaran [@feyzi_fyzisbsrn] (October 10, 2023). "Mesut Yılmaz/Benjamin Netanyahu görüşmesi" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  6. ^ Elbagir, Nima (11 December 2023). "Qatar sent millions to Gaza for years – with Israel's backing. Here's what we know about the controversial deal". CNN. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Netanyahu defends Qatari cash infusion to Gaza". France 24. 11 November 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Netanyahu dismisses claims he built up Hamas with Qatari funds as 'ridiculous'". Ynetnews. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  9. ^ a b Mazzetti, Mark; Bergman, Ronen (10 December 2023). "'Buying Quiet': Inside the Israeli Plan That Propped Up Hamas". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  10. ^ Dettmer, Jamie (21 November 2023). "Our warnings on Hamas were ignored, Israel's women border troops say". Politico. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  11. ^ "כל המערכת הפוליטית תומכת באותה אסטרטגיה: לשמר את הברית הסמויה עם החמאס (The entire political system supports the same strategy: preserving the secret alliance with Hamas)". www.maariv.co.il (in Hebrew). 19 May 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Netanyahu: Don't accuse me of boosting Hamas with Qatari money". POLITICO. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Israeli far-right Minister Bezalel Smotrich described Hamas as 'asset' in unearthed tweet". The National. 23 January 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  14. ^ Higgins, Andrew (24 January 2009). "How Israel Helped to Spawn Hamas - WSJ". WSJ. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  15. ^ "How Israel went from helping 'create' Hamas to bombing it". The Business Standard. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
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