Thousands of Israelis rallied across the country on Saturday to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, voicing outrage over corruption allegations involving his close aides and their reported links to Qatar. Demonstrators gathered despite heavy rain in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and other cities, demanding transparency over what local media have dubbed the “Qatargate” affair.
Former police commissioner Roni Alsheich addressed protesters at Tel Aviv’s Habima Square, accusing Netanyahu of enabling Qatar’s financial influence in Gaza under the pretext of mediation. “Israel became a cover for Qatar’s funding of Hamas under the slogan ‘Hamas is an asset,’” Alsheich said, stressing that responsibility for the policy ultimately lay with the prime minister.
The public backlash follows explosive claims from former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who described the allegations as “the most serious betrayal in Israel’s history.” Bennett accused several of Netanyahu’s former aides of promoting Doha’s interests during wartime, while Israeli soldiers were fighting Hamas — a group financed in part by Qatari aid.
At the center of the controversy are two former Netanyahu advisers, Jonathan Urich and Topaz Luk, and ex-military spokesperson Eilon Levy. Israeli media outlets, citing ongoing investigations, reported that the trio allegedly received money through an American consultant registered as a lobbyist for Qatar. The payments were purportedly linked to media campaigns presenting Qatar in a positive light while undermining Egypt’s mediation role.
In response, Netanyahu’s Likud party dismissed the reports as “baseless” and politically motivated, labeling the affair “Qatar-fake.” The Prime Minister’s Office has denied any wrongdoing or personal involvement in the alleged dealings.
At the Tel Aviv protest, Merav Svirsky — who lost multiple family members during the October 7 Hamas attack — held the government accountable for allowing Qatari funds to reach Hamas. “The money that went through his office is the same money that financed the murder of my family,” she told the crowd. A disturbance occurred mid-speech when an individual attempted to charge the stage but was stopped by police.
In Haifa, families of hostages and victims voiced frustration over the government’s plan to establish a politically appointed investigative committee into the October 7 failures instead of an independent state commission. Though most protests remained peaceful, tensions ran high as demonstrators called for Netanyahu’s resignation and a full criminal investigation into the alleged Qatar connections.
