Qatar denies paying to spread media narrative undermining Egypt’s role in hostage talks

Qatar denies that it made payments to spread a media narrative undermining the role of fellow hostage negotiation mediator Egypt after an Israeli judge revealed that two of Netanyahu’s aides are suspected of having been paid by Doha to do so.

“The State of Qatar strongly condemns the statements published by some journalists and media outlets alleging that Qatar has made financial payments to undermine the efforts of Egypt or any of the mediators involved in the ongoing negotiations between Hamas and Israel,” Qatar’s International Media Office says in a statement.

The statement blames “journalists and media outlets,” but news outlets have just been reporting what Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court Judge Menachem Mizrahi ruled in his decision this week when he extended the remand of Jonatan Urich, who has been a senior aide to the prime minister for many years, and Eli Feldstein, a former spokesman for Netanyahu.

“The State of Qatar affirms that these allegations are baseless and serve only the agendas of those who seek to sabotage the mediation efforts and undermine relations between nations,” the Qatari statement claims.

Mizrahi’s ruling stated that Urich and Feldstein are suspected of having accepted payments from a Qatari lobbyist in order to spread a media narrative boosting Doha’s role in the Israel-Hamas hostage talks at Egypt’s expense — all while they were still working for Netanyahu.

Notably, the Qatari statement does not deny or comment on its lobbyist’s alleged payments to Netanyahu’s aides or Doha’s alleged effort to boost its image. Instead, the statement focuses on the accusation pertaining to Egypt.

Qatar says the false allegation “represent[s] a new development in the ongoing misinformation campaign that is attempting to divert attention away from the humanitarian suffering and perpetuate the politicization of the war.”

The statement stresses that Qatar remains committed to its mediating role and touts its cooperation with Egypt in that effort.