Why Netanyahu is attacking Qatar's cease-fire-hostage deal

Benjamin Netanyahu calling Qatar's mediation role on behalf of Israeli hostages 'problematic' drags his wartime behavior to a new low – which is saying something for the man who doesn't understand terms like 'public decency' or 'accepting responsibility'

There's an old story about a guy who murdered both his parents and then asked the court for leniency. "On what grounds?" asked the judge. "I'm a grieving orphan," the crying man replied.

That's the story with Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatar. The prime minister's coarse attempt to deflect responsibility on to the Gulf state, blaming the Qataris for actions he should be held accountable for, is typically transparent and cheap. Except that his comments, leaked to the media on Tuesday, were not merely just another political statement. These words were reportedly uttered in a meeting with the agonizing, dejected families of the Israeli hostages.

Qatar "is essentially no different from the UN or Red Cross, and in a certain sense is even more problematic. ... They have leverage over [Hamas] ... because they finance them," casually declared the man who pressured Qatar into funneling funds to the terror group in Gaza.

Netanyahu's timing was critical – right at the moment when a delicate deal to free the hostages is being mediated. Qatar has a vital role to play in securing their release, and even if his mendacity is a familiar trait, he seems to have gone too far this time.

The conventional political wisdom in Israel is that Netanyahu himself (or his office) leaked his words in order to disrupt a hostage deal. Not only are the families convinced it was Netanyahu who leaked the conversation; the White House is also convinced he did it deliberately.

Such a deal, along the contours that include a prolonged cease-fire, could mean the end of the war without toppling Hamas. That could mean the end of his governing coalition.

The chutzpah of what Netanyahu said is astounding. For six years, he encouraged Qatar to fund Hamas. Not one payment since 2017 was made without Israeli consent. When Qatar was reconsidering its policy in 2018, Netanyahu implored it not to. All that time, he was being briefed by the Mossad that there was concrete evidence showing that Hamas had been abusing the Qatari funds, which totaled over $1 billion over a six-year period. It used them for arms, rocket manufacturing and the construction of its vast network of tunnels.

However, that did not dissuade Netanyahu or force him to reconsider his policy. On the contrary: he doubled down on it. On October 7, that flawed and reckless policy exploded. But this is Benjamin Netanyahu we are talking about here – a man who has never recognized terms like responsibility, accountability, public decency or morals. So he blamed the IDF chief of staff, then the intelligence branch, then the Shin Bet security service, then U.S. President Joe Biden.

Now he has found a convenient new nemesis: Qatar. Yes, Qatar funded Hamas. Yes, that makes the Gulf state extremely unpopular. But no, it did not supply arms, rockets, explosives or build tunnels.

Netanyahu's statements are irresponsible, a livid Qatar responded, saying it was "appalled" by the remarks. The Qataris added, though, that they will not let one man sidetrack them from what they are doing.

The prime minister also realizes that Qatar will be part of the reconfigured Middle East. He is equally aware of the strategic relationship between the United States and Qatar. Neither of these things fit into his "permanent war" concept for the region. Seeking confrontation with America regarding postwar Gaza and a possible diplomatic process has been his objective since November. Blaming Qatar for Hamas' savage attack is consistent with that: both, in his mind, enable him to frame October 7 not as his debacle but as a greater conflict.