Although Israel and Qatar do not maintain formal diplomatic relations, recent revelations show that Israel export defense technology to Qatar. Israeli defense companies have signed substantial contracts with Qatar and Israeli cyber firms have provided training to Qatari military forces. Intelligence coordination between the countries is taking place through secret meetings and indirect security arrangements, including during ceasefire talks and multilateral military exercises. Trade links also exist in sectors like diamonds and technology. These ties are further spotlighted in the “Qatargate” scandal, which revealed alleged Qatari influence operations involving Israeli political operatives, cybersecurity firms, and former security officials.
Israel-Qatar relations
Israel and Qatar do not have formal diplomatic relations, but have maintained indirect and discreet contact since the 1990s. Israel opened a trade office in Doha in 1996, which was closed in 2009 after the Israeli attack in Gaza also known as “Operation Cast Lead”. Despite this, the two countries held discrete relations. Qatar has played a central role in the Gaza Strip, transferring over a billion dollars in aid for humanitarian needs and salaries since the mid 2010s. It also hosts Hamas’s political leadership and serves as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas in ceasefire and hostage negotiations.
2007 – Shimon Peres, then the israel’s president, visited Doha for the second time.[1]The Jerusalem Post, Shimon Peres makes two-day visit to Qatar, 29.01.2007[2]Haaretz, Vice Premier Peres Arrives in Qatar for First Visit Since 1996, 29.01.2007
2008: Israel’s Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni visited Qatar and attended the 8th annual Doha Forum on Democracy, Development and Free Trade.[3]Haaretz, Livni to Tell Gulf Leaders in Qatar: Iran the Threat, Not Israel, 14.04.2008
2009: Following the 2008-2009 Israeli attack on Gaza, also known as “Operation Cast Lead”, Qatar closed Israel’s interest office in Doha.[4]The Times of Israel, Israel and the Gulf states: It’s complicated, 09.08.2013
2013: An Israeli trade delegation visited Doha for discussions about potential Qatari investments in Israel’s technology sector.[5]Baker institution, Israel and the Arab Gulf States: Drivers and Directions of Change, 19.09.2016
2021: Israel and Qatar reached a trade agreement in the diamond sector, under which Israel approved Qatar’s inclusion in the list of countries authorized to trade rough diamonds through the Kimberley Process. As part of the deal, Qatar committed to allowing Israeli diamond traders to enter the country freely and to establish a trade office if desired, despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries.[6]Globes, Globes Reveal: A secret diamond deal brings Israel and Qatar closer to establishing official relations, 25.11.2021
2022: During the 2022 World Cup, Israel opened a temporary consular office in Doha, the capital of Qatar, in accordance with an agreement between Israel and FIFA. The office allowed Israeli diplomats to provide consular assistance to the thousands of Israeli citizens who traveled to attend the tournament.[7]Ynet, Groundbreaking agreement: Israel expected to open consular representation in Qatar during the World Cup, 09.11.2022
In 2024, Haaretz exposed secret ties between Qatar and associates of Prime Minister Netanyahu, triggering the “Qatargate” investigation into alleged foreign influence and illicit payments. The case centers on two channels: one involving lobbyist Jay Footlik allegedly funneled Qatari funds to Netanyahu’s unofficial spokesperson Eli Feldstein, and another involving a Qatari PR campaign managed by the Israeli firm Perception, with the involvement of former security officials and cybersecurity companies. Several individuals, including Netanyahu aides, are under investigation for bribery and foreign agent contact. The probe is ongoing and under a gag order.[8]Haaretz, Following the Money: Where Does Qatargate Scandal Involving Netanyahu’s Closest Aides and Gulf State Stand?, 15.05.2025
Banning of Al-Jazeera: Israel has accused the Qatari news network Al Jazeera of incitement, bias, and serving as a mouthpiece for Hamas, particularly during periods of conflict in Gaza. These accusations intensified following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, with Israeli officials claiming the network endangered national security and operated as a propaganda arm for hostile entities. In May 2024, the Israeli government, under emergency wartime regulations, officially shut down Al Jazeera’s operations in Israel, seized its equipment, and blocked access to its websites. This marked the first time Israel enforced such a ban on a foreign media outlet.[9]Haaretz, Israel Raids and Shuts Down Al Jazeera’s Bureau in West Bank While Live on Air, 22.09.2024
The move came amid growing international criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has been described by human rights organizations and legal experts as amounting to genocide. Al Jazeera played a central role in documenting the humanitarian catastrophe and alleged war crimes committed by Israeli forces, publishing investigations and reports from the ground that contradicted the official Israeli narrative. In September 2024, Israeli troops raided the network’s offices in the West Bank, confiscated documents and equipmentת an act widely interpreted as retaliation for its critical coverage of the Gaza war. In September 2024 Israeli troops raided the offices of Al Jazeera in the West Bank, confiscated documents and equipment.[10]Haaretz, Israel Raids and Shuts Down Al Jazeera’s Bureau in West Bank While Live on Air, 22.09.2024
Qatar’s involvement with Hamas and in the Gaza Strip
Since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, Qatar has taken an increasingly prominent role in funding the territory under its rule, providing humanitarian aid, fuel, and allocating budgets for salary payments to public sector employees. Between 2012 and 2021, Qatar transferred $1.49 billion to Gaza, including up to $1 billion in cash, with the approval of successive Israeli governments. This financial support, channeled exclusively during Hamas’s control, has positioned Qatar as one of the group’s main backers, both politically and economically.[11]Doha Institution, Israel’s Campaign against Qatar over Its Support for Gaza and a Ceasefire, 24.02.2025[12]The MediaLine, ‘Israel Has Become Increasingly Dependent on Qatar,’ Ex-Mossad Officer Warns, 04.01.2025
Qatar is also hosting the political leadership of Hamas since 2012, a move done in coordination with the US administration.[13]Doha Institution, Israel’s Campaign against Qatar over Its Support for Gaza and a Ceasefire, 24.02.2025
Qatar has played a key mediator role in hostage and ceasefire negotiations, including co-mediating the Gilad Shalit prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas alongside Egypt, and Germany, and it have played a central mediator role in the negotiations between the parties since October 2023.[14]Doha Institution, Israel’s Campaign against Qatar over Its Support for Gaza and a Ceasefire, 24.02.2025[15]The Times of Israel, In first, Israeli Air Force participates with Qatar in aerial exercises hosted by Greece, 11.04.2025
Israel-Qatar Military and Security Relations
While Israel and Qatar maintain no formal diplomatic relations, they hold Intelligence coordination through secret meetings and indirect security arrangements. Lately it was revealed that the major Israeli defense companies, Elbit Systems, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), have signed contracts with Qatar, while Israeli cyber firms have trained Qatari forces.
2017: Qatar negotiated with the Israeli cyber security “The Fifth Dimension” on a $70 million defense deal. The negotiations were revealed during an American investigation into the retired general John Allen on suspicion of failing to properly disclose his status as a business consultant for the Qatari government.[16]Haaretz, Former US general who brokered the deal between The Fifth Dimension and Qatar is being questioned for his part in the deal, 22.06.2022
2017 – 2025: The Israeli group of companies “Blue Skies World” (BSW), also known as CyberProAi or Soteria, was first contracted by Qatar in 2017 in order to operate a cyber training system for the Qatari army. The group had built two cyber learning faculties inside military camps in Doha, and since 2018 have trained hundreds of Qatari soldiers in using cyber tools, including using offensive cyber tools.[17]The Marker, BSW group from Ra’anana operates cyber school in Doha for the Qatari army, 12.06.2025[18]The Marker, Ra’anana Company Document Reveals: We Will Teach the Qatari Army to Hack Systems. Investigation, 13.06.2025
At various points between 2020 and 2022, Elbit’s C-MUSIC aircraft protection system was installed 3 aircraft (two Boeing 747s and an Airbus A340-500) of the Qatari royal fleet.[19]Haaretz, Advanced Israeli Systems Sold to Qatar and Saudi Arabia, Documents and Photographs Reveal, 28.06.2026
February 2020: Mossad Director Yossi Cohen and Southern Command Chief Major General Herzi Halevi made a secret visit to Qatar, where they met with Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Misnad, head of Qatari intelligence and national security advisor to the Emir of Qatar. The meeting was also attended by Mohammed Al-Emadi, Qatar’s envoy to the Gaza Strip.[20]Walla News, In the background of the settlement discussions: the secret trip of the head of the Mossad and the commander of the Southern Command to Qatar, 22.2.2020
August 2020: Intelligence Online reported that the private security firm Sdema Group was negotiating over a several dozen million-euro contract to provide physical and cyber-security services to the 2022 World Cup soccer championship in Qatar. The article also mentions other Israeli cyber companies operating in Qatar: NSO group, Gamma Group, maker of the software program FinFisher, and Candiru, which recently received an investment linked to Qatar.[21]Intelligence Online, Doha, like Abu Dhabi, also hooked on Israeli technology, 26.08.2020[22]Intelligence Online, Candiru receives boost from investors linked to Qatar, 26.08.2020
December 2020: The Citizen Lab’s investigation revealed that Pegasus spyware by NSO Group was used to hack 36 personal phones belonging to journalists, producers, anchors, and executives at Al Jazeera, the Qatari news network.[23]The Citizen Lab, The Great iPwn: Journalists Hacked with Suspected NSO Group iMessage ‘Zero-Click’ Exploit, 20.12.2020 This revelation follows an investigation from 2018 that found several suspected infections by Pegasus in Qatar between 2016-2018.[24]The Citizen Lab, HIDE AND SEEK: Tracking NSO Group’s Pegasus Spyware to Operations in 45 Countries, 18.09.2018
June 2021: The Israeli-American company Quali will cooperate with Emirati company BEACON RED provide cybersecurity services for governments, military, and critical infrastructure projects in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait.[25]Israel Defense, Israel’s Quali to supply cybersecurity for government projects of Gulf states, 02.06.2021
March 2022: During his visit to Bahrain, the IDF Chief of Staff, Aviv Kochavi, has met with the Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces. Kochavi proposed deploying Israeli radar systems on Qatari soil to provide early warning against Iranian drone attacks.[26]News 13, Kochavi’s secret meeting with the Qatari army chief of staff: They discussed cooperation against Iran, 11.03.2022
June 2022: The Wall Street Journal reported that top military officials from Israel and Qatar have met in secret US-brokered talks to discuss military cooperation. Delegations of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Jordan and Egypt met the Israeli Military Chief of Staff in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, in March 2022.[27]The Wall Street Journal, U.S. Held Secret Meeting With Israeli, Arab Military Chiefs to Counter Iran Air Threat, 26.06.2022
April 2025: Israel and Qatar participated together in the Iniochos annual aerial exercise in Greece.[28]The Times of Israel, In first, Israeli Air Force participates with Qatar in aerial exercises hosted by Greece, 11.04.2025
In June 2025, the Israeli Newspaper Ma’ariv revealed that the top Israeli defense companies sold technology to Qatar. According to Maariv, Elbit Systems had signed contracts with Qatar worth over $100 million, while Rafael secured deals valued at tens of millions of dollars. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), meanwhile, maintained a long-standing relationship with Qatar, which included at least 20 visits by IAI executives to Doha. IAI also hosted a senior Qatari delegation that spent an entire day at the governmental company’s headquarters and received extensive briefings.[29]Maariv, Israel’s defense companies sold technology to Qatar for hundreds of millions of dollars, 10.06.2025
June 2026: The Israeli Ha’aretz revealed that Israeli companies were awarded subcontracts with Boeing worth $150 million to $250 million to supply advanced parts and systems for Qatar’s advanced F-15 fighter jet program. Some of the contracts were awarded to Elbit‘s subsidiaries: Elbit America and Cyclone, both fully-owned by Elbit, with another contract awarded to Collins Elbit Vision Systems, a joint venture with RTX, which produces the advanced JHMCS combat helmet. Qatar purchased 160 of the helmets in a $35 million deal. Elbit also supplied the Qatar’s F-15 program with AN/AVS-9 night-vision goggles. Additional contracts in the Qatari F-15 project went to Israel Aerospace Industries and Beth-El Industries.[30]Haaretz, Advanced Israeli Systems Sold to Qatar and Saudi Arabia, Documents and Photographs Reveal, 28.06.2026