Did Qatar know of the Hamas October 7th attack before it happened?

Western intelligence sources suggest Qatar might have had foreknowledge of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, despite the lack of concrete evidence.

As Hamas' biggest financial supporter, it's assumed Qatar monitors the activities of Hamas leaders sheltered in luxury within its borders.

Qatar's potential motives for not divulging information on the attack include disrupting normalization talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which could undermine its regional influence, particularly in the energy sector.

Despite these suspicions, Qatar plays a complex mediator role, maintaining relations with the US and Europe, and hosting the US Central Command's regional headquarters at the Al Udeid Airbase.

Simultaneously, Qatar's aid to Gaza over the years and involvement with Hamas leadership could suggest a deeper level of involvement or awareness.

All this occurs against the backdrop of Qatar's contradictory connections with various global and regional parties, and its significant role in the region, demonstrated by hosting pivotal events like the World Cup and facilitating mediations such as the release of hostages from Gaza.

There is varying certainty among intelligence officials about whether Qatar had advance knowledge of the attack. Some suggest there "are indications" or "smoke," but no "smoking gun" has been found. (Politico, Maariv)

The exact amount of financial support Qatar has provided to Gaza over the past decade varies across reports. (NPR claims over $1 billion, while Israel Hayom mentions $2 billion since 2007.)

Hostile attitudes towards the Muslim Brotherhood by some of Qatar's neighbors led to a diplomatic severance in 2017, eventually resolved with lingering distrust. (Politico)