DailyDrop Israel edition No. 16 · Morning · TUE., OCT. 20, 2026 · Time investigation: Israel helped transfer nearly two billion…

Time published an investigation on October 18 about the transfer of funds from Qatar to Gaza mediated by Israel. Ynet reported nearly two billion dollars. Haaretz cited documents according to which Israel was a full partner for years, among them a 2020 thank-you letter to Doha from former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen. Israel Hayom reported that senior officials publicly condemned the funding but secretly worked to preserve it, and that a National Security Council official asked that the funds be transferred through the Qatari envoy. Ynet wrote that Netanyahu received evidence that the money was going to Hamas’s military buildup. Eisenkot said, according to Zman Yisrael, that there is “something very dark” in the insistence.

The transfers of Qatari money to Gaza have been a subject of political dispute for years, and the investigation brings documents about what happened behind the scenes, a week and a half before the election. The question is whether the money was seen as humanitarian or as a security consideration.

For the voter, the question is what the government knew and when. For those following security, the question is whether the money strengthened Hamas, and both remain in the reports without a final resolution.

Haaretz and Israel Hayom present the investigation as proof that Israel cooperated in the transfers, and that “humanitarian aid” was the declared framework.

Eisenkot, in his remarks to Zman Yisrael, presents Netanyahu’s insistence on the money as problematic and “dark,” and Maariv brings Qatar’s response rejecting the accusations as political moves.

Confirmed: the existence of the investigation, the letter and its content as reported by several outlets. Not confirmed: the exact sum, the response of Netanyahu’s office and what was done with the money. Follow-up: an official response and whether the subject will come up in the election confrontation.

Ynet (Time investigation, Oct. 18) · Haaretz (thank-you letter, Oct. 18) · Israel Hayom (the documents, Oct. 19) · Maariv (Qatar’s response, Oct. 19) · Zman Yisrael (Eisenkot, Oct. 19)

Security · PoliticsPress ✓ 5 outlets · the response of Netanyahu’s office was not published

Time investigation: Israel helped transfer nearly two billion dollars from Qatar to Gaza, and senior officials sought to keep the flow going

Documents published on October 18 include a thank-you letter from former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen to Doha; Eisenkot: “something very dark.”

Time magazine published an investigation on October 18, which made the main headline on ynet, according to which Israel helped transfer nearly two billion dollars from Qatar to Gaza. Haaretz reported that the magazine published documents showing that Israel was a full partner for years in transferring the funds, among them a 2020 thank-you letter sent to Doha by former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen during Netanyahu’s term. Israel Hayom quoted the letter as saying that humanitarian aid to the Strip “contributed to stability and security in the region,” and wrote that, according to the investigation, senior Israeli officials publicly condemned the Qatari funding but behind the scenes worked to preserve it. In another document, according to Israel Hayom, a National Security Council official asked that the funds be transferred through the Qatari envoy.

Ynet wrote that it and Yedioth Ahronoth had revealed that more than a year earlier Netanyahu received evidence that the Qatari money was going to Hamas’s military buildup. Haaretz added that frustration was expressed in Qatar over the accusations of funding the massacre of October 7. Eisenkot said, according to Zman Yisrael, that “there is something very dark in Netanyahu’s insistence on the Qatari money.” Maariv reported separately that the spokesman of the Qatari Foreign Ministry attacked the statements in Israel against his country and called them “childish political moves,” adding that following the strike in Doha guarantees were received to prevent further strikes.

Open the story and DailyDrop’s take

Police arrested eight suspects in Judea and Samaria, according to Haaretz and ynet of October 19, in the “Olive Leaf” operation, launched after the attack on a press photographer and diplomats. Ynet wrote that the incidents caused a storm worldwide and drew condemnations from senior officials of the US administration. Reuters reported that US representatives visited a Palestinian village after the attacks on the diplomats, and Al Jazeera reported that the European Union condemned the attack. The Guardian and Sky News reported that the US ambassador to Israel condemned the attack, “despicable,” in which an American photographer was severely injured. Haaretz English reported on Netanyahu’s remarks about sensational headlines, and the Washington Post wrote that the photographer felt hurt by them.

The arrests come after condemnations from the US and Europe, and they bear on Israel’s relations with its allies and on the question of how police handle incidents in the field, where there is no permanent police presence.

Journalists, diplomats and residents of the villages in the area are affected by whether the area can be reached safely during the olive harvest. For an Israeli resident, it is a question of international reputation and of relations with the US.

According to ynet and Haaretz, the operation shows that police act when an incident is publicized worldwide and draws condemnations from the American administration.

According to Haaretz English and Al Jazeera, there is a broader question about the wave of attacks during the olive harvest, and about Netanyahu’s remarks presenting the reports as exaggeration.

Confirmed: eight detainees, the name of the operation, condemnations from the US and the European Union. Not confirmed: the identities of the detainees and the suspicions. Follow-up: requests to extend detention and whether indictments will be filed.

Haaretz (8 detainees, Oct. 19) · Ynet (Olive Leaf, Oct. 19) · Reuters (envoys’ visit, Oct. 18) · Al Jazeera (EU condemnation, Oct. 18)

Society · Judea and SamariaPress ✓ 5 outlets · the identities of the suspects and the indictments have not yet been published

Police arrested eight suspects in the “Olive Leaf” operation after the attack on the American photographer and the diplomats

Police launched an arrest operation in Judea and Samaria called “Olive Leaf” on Monday morning and arrested eight suspects of involvement in incidents against a press photographer and diplomats, Haaretz and ynet reported. According to ynet, the incidents caused a storm worldwide and drew condemnations also from senior officials of the US administration. Reuters reported that US envoys visited a Palestinian village after the attacks on the diplomats, and Al Jazeera wrote that the European Union condemned the attack. The Guardian and Sky News reported that the US ambassador to Israel condemned the attack, describing it as “despicable,” in which an American photographer was severely injured.

Haaretz English reported that Netanyahu said that “sensational” headlines about “alleged” attacks by settlers are part of a campaign, and that the photographer herself, according to the Washington Post, felt hurt by his remarks. The attacks took place during the olive harvest season, and Al Jazeera asked why waves of violence against Palestinians intensify in this season.

Open the story and DailyDrop’s take

Inside

Globes: exposure to stocks in advanced study funds jumped to about 52 percent over the past fifteen yearsGlobes wrote that Israelis’ savings are exposed to stocks more than ever, and a similar trend was recorded in pensions.Economy · ✓ Globes

Supreme Court: a contractor’s collapse does not rule out compensation for late delivery of an apartmentYnet reported that a financing party that completes a project through a receiver cannot shed the obligations of the purchase agreement.Law · ✓ Ynet

Residents of the Dora neighborhood in Netanya will receive up to 40 sq. m. extra in the apartments for evacueesYnet reported that the municipality backed down from the area limit after a lengthy legal battle in a pinui-binui project.Real estate · ✓ Ynet

Free Student: fictitious certificates are being issued for public transport discountsYnet reported on a check by the Free Israel movement; the price per certificate is 200 to 250 shekels, and the discount reaches thousands of shekels a year.Economy · ✓ Ynet

Study: nearly half of reef-building coral species are at risk of extinctionHaaretz reported on an examination of 892 species; climate change is the main threat to the habitat of many animals.Science · ✓ Haaretz

World · FrancePress ✓ 6 outlets · the full reasons for the riots were not determined

Macron addressed the nation after a night of riots in Paris and Marseille: “Shameful, they wanted to topple the Republic”

Ynet reported that tear gas and stun grenades were fired in Paris during violent riots, and that French President Emmanuel Macron said in an address to the nation: “Shameful, they wanted to topple the Republic.” Haaretz quoted him as saying that those who tried to topple the Republic will bear responsibility for their actions. Walla reported attempted looting in Marseille, and Maariv wrote that “order no longer exists in France” and that the riots resumed ahead of the address.

On October 19, the BBC reported that Macron is calling for calm and warning that the riots must not escalate, and The Guardian reported that he refused to accept the resignation of the interior minister. Bloomberg reported that France will impose a partial curfew following the riots and that the riots are linked to the cost of living.

Open the story and DailyDrop’s take

In brief

Ben Simmons tore his Achilles tendonHaaretz reported that the Australian player, 30, ended his season before it began, in Sacramento, which signed him to a contract in the summer.
70,000 shekels compensation for a child bitten by a dogYnet reported that an 8-year-old boy from Holon was attacked by the neighbors’ German shepherd, lost consciousness and was left with a scar of about 10 cm.
Kiryat Yam project to continue despite danger of collapseYnet reported that a person claiming rights in a nearby building argues that the excavations damaged the property and that further excavations could bring it down.
Three Israeli companies on Time’s list of inventionsGlobes reported on a start-up that detects cancer using dogs, a robotic beehive and a company that rewards creators for the use of content in artificial intelligence works.
Ahavat Hashem Gordon launched a jewelry brandYnet reported that the LOVE OF GOD brand offers seven designs, at prices from 550 shekels to 15,400 shekels, and an investment of 1.5 million shekels.
Victory launched a device with a first-of-its-kind offerIsrael Hayom reported on a sale of the iPhone 18 Pro Max by parallel import, without a physical SIM tray, under purchase conditions and a limit on quantity.
Suspected blood feud in EizariyaYnet reported that Jawad Skafi was shot dead at the door of his home, on suspicion of revenge for the murder of a young man from East Jerusalem, and police opened an investigation.
Eisenkot aims to topple small parties in the Netanyahu blocYnet reported that in closed conversations the chairman of Yashar! said that the big party’s campaign is meant to exploit the weakness of small parties in the rival bloc.

Seven minutes every morning, one front page

DailyDrop.

Time investigation: Israel helped transfer nearly two billion dollars from Qatar to Gaza, and senior officials sought to keep the flow going

Police arrested eight suspects in the “Olive Leaf” operation after the attack on the American photographer and the diplomats

Iran threatens Israel’s energy sites, and oil prices rise on fears of escalation in the Gulf

Kan 11 poll: Eisenkot bloc 52 seats against 51 for the Netanyahu bloc, Winter below the electoral threshold

Macron addressed the nation after a night of riots in Paris and Marseille: “Shameful, they wanted to topple the Republic”

In brief

Unverified — what we could not confirm

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