Netanyahu’s office disputes TIME magazine’s fact-checking claims over Qatari funding and leadership

In a recent clash between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office and TIME Magazine, Netanyahu’s office has sharply criticized the magazine’s fact-checking article as “incorrect.” The dispute arose from an August 4 interview with TIME reporter Eric Cortellessa, whose subsequent article questioned the accuracy of Netanyahu’s statements on Qatari funding to Hamas and his control over the Israeli government.

Cortellessa’s fact-checking article, published five days after the interview, challenged several of Netanyahu’s claims. Notably, it disputed Netanyahu’s assertion that Qatari funding for Hamas had been established prior to his tenure. Cortellessa argued that it was only in 2014, under Netanyahu’s approval, that the Israeli government became directly involved in managing these financial transfers.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) countered this assertion, maintaining that Qatari funding to Hamas was authorized as early as 2007, shortly after Hamas took control of Gaza. The PMO argued that such funding had been a consistent policy across multiple Israeli administrations, including Netanyahu’s. They emphasized that the focus on Qatari money was misplaced, pointing to the significant issue of weapons smuggling from Sinai as a more critical factor influencing the situation in Gaza.

Cortellessa also cited a quote attributed to Netanyahu suggesting that supporting Hamas was a strategy to thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state. The PMO contested this interpretation, asserting that it did not accurately reflect Netanyahu’s position.

Additionally, Cortellessa questioned Netanyahu’s autonomy in governing, suggesting that he was overly dependent on influential coalition ministers such as Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir. The PMO refuted this, asserting that Netanyahu maintains effective control over coalition decisions and policy formulation.

This exchange highlights the ongoing tension between Netanyahu’s office and media outlets, reflecting broader debates on Israeli policy and leadership. As the situation unfolds, both Netanyahu’s office and TIME Magazine remain engaged in a vigorous debate over the accuracy and implications of the reported facts.