Israeli officials are facing backlash after years of Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu quietly allowing Hamas to remain in power.

But reporting in the New York Times has revealed that Netanyahu’s government was more hands-on about helping Hamas: they helped a Qatari diplomat bring suitcases of cash into Gaza, indirectly boosting the militant organization, according to the report.

The calculus — the Times reported on Sunday, citing Israeli officials, Netanyahu’s critics, and the man’s own reported statements — was to keep Hamas strong enough to counteract the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, allowing Netanyahu to avoid a two-state peace solution and keep both sides weak.

Israeli security officials got it wrong; they didn’t think Hamas was capable, or even interested, in launching a large attack against the Jewish state.

  • Tavarin@lemmy.ca
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    1 year ago

    Money is aid. Money can buy food, and water, and whatever other supplies a state needs.

    • GoodEye8@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      If money is aid then money is also bombs, rockets, WMD parts etc. Money is just an object of exchange that may be used to buy aid. But it doesn’t make it aid, just like it doesn’t make it a bomb.

      • Tavarin@lemmy.ca
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        1 year ago

        But unlike sending food, it is non-perishable, and can allow a country to buy what it needs. Money is aid.

        • GoodEye8@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          In that case money is also bombs and it would actually make sense to prevent it from entering Gaza.

          • Tavarin@lemmy.ca
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            1 year ago

            And now you have an even worse humanitarian crisis, and a pissed off international community because you’ve denied aid to Gaza. Congrats, you’re a terrible world leader.

            • GoodEye8@lemm.ee
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              1 year ago

              Actual aid is not prevent so nobody gives a fuck. Nobody also gives a fuck about every other action take by Israel that is deepening the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Literally nothing would change for Israel, except Hamas wouldn’t get that money.

              Now before you continue your mental circlejerk to not accept being wrong remember, you’re the one defending Netanyahu right now. He wanted that money in Gaza and he made sure it would make it there. If you want to keep defending Netanyahu, go ahead.

              • Tavarin@lemmy.ca
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                1 year ago

                Now before you continue your mental circlejerk

                Pot, meet kettle.

                Money is considered aid, always has been.

                • GoodEye8@lemm.ee
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                  1 year ago

                  I’m not the one ignoring larger points to focus on some irrelevant gray area. Once again, if you want to die on the hill of technicality go ahead, money is aid. Now unless you’re going to address what I’ve already brought up multiple times kindly fuck off.

                  • Tavarin@lemmy.ca
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                    1 year ago

                    Nope, because you fail to understand how Israel denying the movement of aid into Gaza would be a bad look for them.

                    And Netanyahu is still a piece of shit who needs to be removed form power, but not for allowing aid into Gaza.