Manama – Israel has been supporting Hamas and the Israeli banks allowed Qatari money to Hamas, without anybody accounting for that, claims Former Saudi Intelligence Chief Turki Al-Faisal at the IISS Manama Dialogue 2023.
During his speech, Al-Faisal claimed that Israel had been providing support to Hamas, a militant group operating in the Gaza Strip. He further alleged that neighboring Qatar had been sending financial aid to Gaza, with the funds flowing through an Israeli bank without adequate oversight or accountability.
Prince Al-Faisal said, “Israel has been supporting Hamas, and our neighboring Qatar has been sending money to Gaza. And it was Israeli bank that allowing that money to get to Hamas, without anybody accounting for that, where that money is going and who’s going to receive it”.
According to Al-Faisal, this lack of transparency raises concerns about the destination and recipients of the money.
The former Saudi intelligence chief’s allegations of Israeli support for Hamas, if proven true, would have significant implications for the regional dynamics and the prospects of peace in the Middle East.
Prince Al-Faisal also directed criticism towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, holding him responsible for the deteriorating situation in Gaza. He accused Netanyahu of arrogance and a failure to acknowledge the realities on the ground, suggesting that the Israeli leader’s actions had backfired.
“If you all are looking for someone to blame for what is happening in Gaza. We can equally say, Israel is to blame for that, and particularly Mr. Netanyahu, his arrogance and his blindness to reality. He thought he was outsmarting everybody. Alas he has been proven wrong”, he said.
Expressing his hopes for the Israeli public, Prince Al-Faisal urged them not to reelect Netanyahu or choose a leader who might be even more detrimental to the peace process.
Prince said, “I hope Israeli public will not put him back in office or choose someone even more awful than he, if there is election in Israel”.
The Israeli public will now face the decision to either reelect Benjamin Netanyahu or choose an alternative leader who can navigate the challenges of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and address the concerns raised by figures like Prince Al-Faisal.
The IISS Manama Dialogue, an annual security conference held in Bahrain, serves as a platform for policymakers, experts, and officials to discuss regional security challenges and explore potential solutions.
