Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is embroiled in a major political firestorm after a leaked recording exposed his alleged efforts to deliberately undermine sensitive ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, mediated by Qatar.
The explosive revelation, reported by Israel’s Channel 12 news, features the Prime Minister criticising Qatar’s role in a private meeting with families of hostages still held in Gaza. In the recording, Netanyahu is heard stating that he was responsible for applying pressure on Qatar, which hosts Hamas’s political leadership in its capital, Doha.
‘I was the one who halted the Mossad’s involvement in the mediation,’ Netanyahu allegedly said, referring to Israel’s intelligence agency. ‘Why? Because I was furious they were going to Doha.’ He went further, claiming, ‘I authorised the Mossad to take this action against Qatar… and since then, they have applied pressure. They’re now much more eager to pursue a deal.’
The most incendiary claim is that Netanyahu authorised a diplomatic ‘strike’ or action against the Qatari government, a move critics say was designed to sabotage the very talks meant to secure the release of Israeli captives.
War Cabinet on the Brink of Collapse
The leak has triggered fury within Netanyahu’s own emergency war cabinet. Benny Gantz, a key centrist minister and rival, condemned the Prime Minister’s remarks as ‘damaging to the national effort’ to secure the hostages' release.
The fallout threatens to shatter the fragile unity of Israel’s leadership at a critical juncture in the war. With families of hostages expressing outrage, the leak paints a picture of a leader prioritising political manoeuvring over the lives of citizens.
Qatar’s Crucial Yet Controversial Role
Qatar has been a pivotal, though contentious, intermediary between Israel and Hamas for years. Its financial support for Gaza and hosting of Hamas officials has long drawn Israeli criticism. However, its unique channels of communication have made it an indispensable broker for ceasefire talks and humanitarian efforts.
Netanyahu’s alleged comments reveal a deep-seated hostility towards Doha’s role, even as his government relies on it. The leak suggests a calculated attempt to publicly discredit Qatar while privately utilising its services, a strategy that now appears to have backfired spectacularly.
The political earthquake in Jerusalem raises serious questions about the future of the negotiations and the stability of Israel’s wartime government, casting a long shadow over hopes for a swift end to the conflict.
