Netanyahu's Strategy on Hamas and Palestine

The inconvenient truth of the fact that Prime Minister

Netanyahu himself saw it in his interest to

keep Hamas in control

in Gaza.

Don't take my word for it. Uh, he told us this back in twenty nineteen

at a Likud meeting party, party meeting where he said, and I quote,

"Anyone

who wants to prevent the creation of a Palestinian state needs to support

strengthening Hamas. This is part of our strategy to divide the

Palestinians between those in Gaza and those in Judea and

Samaria." End quote.

Netanyahu.

After all, so long as Hamas was in control in

Gaza, how could anybody ask Israel to accept a

Palestinian state that included Gaza and the West Bank?

Good question.

So

Prime Minister Netanyahu and his extreme right-wing partners have

embarked on a

concerted strategy to weaken the Palestinian Authority, which

recognizes Israel's right to exist, and to strengthen

Huma-Hamas, which doesn't. Uh, Mr.

Chairman, I'd like to enter into the record a,

a piece that appeared in

Haaretz in October of last year, A Brief History of the

Netanyahu-Hamas Alliance.

Without objection, it'll be included in the record.

We also have heard a lot of talk, uh, since October seventh

about Qatari funds going, uh, to

Hamas. Uh, Ms. Maloney, isn't it true

that those funds flowed with the concurrence of

Prime Minister Netanyahu and Israel?

Yes, that's true.

That is true. So when I hear all my colleagues talk about

this

Qatari money, please recognize that this was done with the

consent and encouragement of Prime Minister Netanyahu. Mr.

Chairman, I'd like to enter into the record a

article, CNN article,

Qatar Sent Millions to Gaza for Years Dash With Israel's Backing.

Without objection, it'll be included in the record.

And Mr. Chairman, I'd also like to enter into the record a

New York Times

article from December of last year entitled Buying Quiet:

Inside the Israeli Plan That Propped Up Hamas.

Sub-headline, Prime Minister Netanyahu Gambled

That a Strong

Hamas, But Not Too Strong,

Would Keep the Peace and Reduce Pressure for a Palestinian

State.

Without objection, it'll be included in the record.

And Ms. Maloney, have you also seen the reports about how

Prime

Minister Netanyahu was informed about various

sources of Hamas', um, monies kept

overseas, including, uh, some in Turkey, and decided to

ignore those warnings?

I've seen those reports.

Uh, Mr. Chairman, I would like to, um, enter into a,

the record a New York Times piece, uh, again from December of last year.

Headline, Israel Found That Hamas Money Machine-- Found

Hamas Money Machine Years Ago. Nobody Turned It Off.

Without objection.