Did Qatar know more about the October 7 attack than it broadcasts? Western intelligence sources do not rule out the possibility.
Speaking to Politico, intelligence officials said that while there was no conclusive evidence, there were "indications" that the small but hugely influential Persian Gulf emirate had some information. "We are still investigating the issue," said a senior intelligence official from one of Europe's world powers when asked if Doha knew in advance. "There's smoke, but there's no smoking gun."
Qatar, which hosts Ismail Haniyeh and other senior Hamas figures, declined to comment officially. The article notes that hospitality does not in itself mean that Qatar knew, since the organization's leadership in Gaza could have compartmentalized the top in Doha.
The statements, Politico notes, had a clear motivation, at least not to prevent such an attack: an effort to thwart the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. The reason: Saudi Arabia is Qatar's competitor in energy exports, and cooperation between the two largest economies in the Middle East could harm Qatar's interests. This was illustrated by the partnership in the commercial corridor from India to Europe, which was supposed to pass through the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Israel, but not in Qatar.
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