How an Israeli cell orchestrated an anti-Qatar campaign

An investigative report in Haaretz says a network of Israeli influence specialists, political advisers and at least one ex-Mossad official organized a civilian campaign aimed at pressuring Qatar over its ties to Hamas in the weeks after the October 7, 2023 attacks. According to the newspaper, the operation began only days after the assault on southern Israel and sought to use international pressure on Doha to compel Hamas to free the captives taken to Gaza.

Haaretz reported that roughly 30 people were brought into the project, which included experts in psychological warfare. Participants set up a WhatsApp group called Free the Kidnapped, launched a multilingual website and social media profiles, produced videos, solicited donations, contacted journalists and arranged media appearances. Slogans and messaging noted in the report included references such as "Qatar-ISIS Ltd" and the framing of Hamas as equivalent to ISIS on campaign materials.

The initiative was described by the newspaper as a "civilian initiative," but sources cited by Haaretz said the effort was abruptly discontinued after about a month. Commentators quoted in coverage of the report said the episode highlights a contradiction in how Israel treats Qatar: while Israeli officials have publicly accused Doha of enabling Hamas, Israel has also relied on Qatar as a mediator and conduit for talks. One academic told reporters he has tracked similar campaigns targeting Qatar over recent years and suggested the activity may have been paused or relocated.

The report situates the campaign against a backdrop of strained relations between Israel and Qatar. Doha has hosted a Hamas political office since 2012 and has denied funding the group, saying aid to Gaza is transparent and coordinated with the United States. The excerpt also notes that an Israeli missile strike on September 9 last year targeted a negotiating team in Doha and killed six people, including a Qatari national; that strike drew international condemnation and prompted an apology from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Haaretz-based coverage also cites recent casualty figures from the wider conflict, including reported Palestinian deaths and injuries in Gaza since October.