Israeli officials are facing backlash after years of Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu quietly allowing Hamas to remain in power.

But reporting in the New York Times has revealed that Netanyahu’s government was more hands-on about helping Hamas: they helped a Qatari diplomat bring suitcases of cash into Gaza, indirectly boosting the militant organization, according to the report.

The calculus — the Times reported on Sunday, citing Israeli officials, Netanyahu’s critics, and the man’s own reported statements — was to keep Hamas strong enough to counteract the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, allowing Netanyahu to avoid a two-state peace solution and keep both sides weak.

Israeli security officials got it wrong; they didn’t think Hamas was capable, or even interested, in launching a large attack against the Jewish state.

  • @Tavarin@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    English
    01 year ago

    Now before you continue your mental circlejerk

    Pot, meet kettle.

    Money is considered aid, always has been.

    • @GoodEye8@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      01 year ago

      I’m not the one ignoring larger points to focus on some irrelevant gray area. Once again, if you want to die on the hill of technicality go ahead, money is aid. Now unless you’re going to address what I’ve already brought up multiple times kindly fuck off.

      • @Tavarin@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        English
        01 year ago

        Nope, because you fail to understand how Israel denying the movement of aid into Gaza would be a bad look for them.

        And Netanyahu is still a piece of shit who needs to be removed form power, but not for allowing aid into Gaza.