The Secret Financial Support Behind Hamas' Rise

According to a report by the New York Times, Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, tacitly supported Hamas by allowing suitcases of cash to be brought into Gaza by a Qatari diplomat. The aim was to keep Hamas strong enough to counteract the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, preventing a two-state peace solution. Israeli security officials facilitated the transfer of funds, despite knowing that Hamas was diverting some of the money for its own use. The peace agreement collapsed when Hamas launched a terror attack, leading to a violent response from Israel.