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The following article is written by Tania Koenig, an intercessor who is intimately familiar with the situation facing Israel in the Middle East.

In an age where truth is often traded for access, and discernment buried beneath diplomatic showmanship, the danger is not always in malice—it is in naïveté disguised as wisdom.

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Steve Witkoff, a real estate magnate turned Middle East envoy under the Trump administration, recently sat down with Tucker Carlson for a 60-minute interview that revealed more than he intended. What unfolded was not a vision for peace—but a stunning example of how privilege, profit, and political proximity can blur the line between diplomacy and delusion.

Witkoff’s praise for Qatar—the state sponsor of Hamas—and his astonishing downplaying of the October 7 atrocities committed by Hamas against Israeli civilians reflect a worldview painfully disconnected from reality. He framed Qatar as “decent,” Hamas as “ideological,” and the conflict in Gaza as an opportunity for renewal—while omitting the genocidal intent of Islamic Jihad, the slaughter of Christians and Alawites, and the ever-tightening grip of radicalism across the Middle East.

INTRODUCTION: PEACEMAKER OR PAWN?

Steve Witkoff wants to be seen as a bridge-builder—someone bringing Trumpian boldness and a businessman’s pragmatism into one of the world’s most volatile regions. But his interview revealed something far more dangerous: a man entranced by illusion, misled by his own alliances, and morally blind to the ideological forces he’s legitimizing.

This article does not question Witkoff’s sincerity. It questions his understanding. It challenges his silence. And it confronts his narrative—line by line—with the reality on the ground:

• The Qatari regime he calls “trustworthy” is the same regime that has funneled $1.8 billion to Hamas, harbored its leaders, and broadcast anti-Semitic propaganda.
• Hamas, which he softens as an “idea,” is not an abstract ideology—it is a U.S.-designated terrorist group responsible for mass rapes, executions, and child murder on October 7th.
• The Palestinian Authority and Qatar, praised for their moderation, are engaged in Islamic Jihad, according to intelligence officials and senior Israeli security sources.

Most shocking, perhaps, is that Witkoff—who benefited financially from a $623 million Qatari bailout of his Manhattan property—positions himself as an objective negotiator, while defending the very actors destabilizing the region.

In this long-form investigation, we will uncover:

• The quotes and contradictions in Witkoff’s public comments
• His financial ties to Qatar
• Qatar’s documented terror sponsorship and antisemitic incitement
• The reaction of Israeli generals, investors, and survivors
• And the spiritual consequences of empowering a false peace built on deception

SECTION I: The Qatar Connection – A Bailout Disguised as Diplomacy

Before Steve Witkoff ever appeared in the political spotlight, he was a real estate magnate navigating New York’s luxury development scene. But one of his most high-profile assets—the Park Lane Hotel—sat in limbo for years. After a failed $1 billion auction attempt in 2017 and years of financial uncertainty, the property was rescued in 2023 by an unlikely buyer: the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA).

QIA, the sovereign wealth fund of the Qatari government, purchased the Park Lane Hotel for $623 million. At first glance, this may seem like just another high-value property acquisition. But in truth, it was a financial lifeline—one that not only stabilized Witkoff’s investment but also, perhaps, secured his loyalty.

It is this bailout, followed by his effusive praise for Qatar as a peace-broker, that demands scrutiny.

“If I didn’t trust the Qataris, this would be a real problem… Sheikh Mohammed is a good man.”
— Steve Witkoff, Tucker Carlson Interview

But who are the Qataris, really?

While Witkoff paints them as moderate, decent, and “no different than the Swiss or Norwegians,” U.S. intelligence assessments tell another story:

• Qatar has funneled over $1.8 billion in aid directly to Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
• The Qatari regime harbors Hamas leadership—including Khaled Mashal and Ismail Haniyeh—in luxury accommodations in Doha.
• Qatari government media celebrated the October 7 massacre as a “historic victory for Hamas,” praising Yahya Sinwar, the butcher of Israeli civilians.
• Qatar broadcasts antisemitic content to children and adults alike, using state-run channels to demonize Israel and glorify terrorism.

Despite this, Witkoff not only defends Qatar—he collaborates with them, claims their motives are “pure,” and even argues that Hamas might have a role in Gaza’s political future if they demilitarize.

This is not diplomacy. This is complicity masquerading as pragmatism.

SECTION II: “Hamas Is Just an Idea” – Witkoff’s Dangerous Whitewashing of Terror

Perhaps the most alarming moment in Steve Witkoff’s 60-minute interview with Tucker Carlson was not his defense of Qatar—but his stunning minimization of Hamas, the terrorist organization responsible for the October 7 massacre.

“I don’t think anyone has the feeling that you can just sort of kill off Hamas. It’s an idea, right? That’s what Hamas is about. It’s an ideological idea.”

— Steve Witkoff, Tucker Carlson Interview

In one phrase, Witkoff transformed Hamas from a genocidal terrorist group into an abstract notion—stripping it of its brutality, structure, and accountability. But Hamas is not an idea. It is a paramilitary organization, with an explicit charter calling for the destruction of Israel and the global domination of Islam.

Its methods are not philosophical—they are barbaric:

• October 7, 2023: Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel, murdering over 1,200 civilians, including infants, women, and the elderly.
• Victims were burned alive, raped, and beheaded in their homes.
• Children were kidnapped and dragged into tunnels.
• Women were taken hostage, brutalized, and paraded through Gaza’s streets as trophies.
• The group posted footage of the atrocities as propaganda—celebrated by Hamas leaders sheltered in Qatar.

To reduce this horror to an “idea” is not just inaccurate—it is morally outrageous.

What’s worse: in the same interview, Witkoff floats the suggestion that Hamas could have a future political role in Gaza, if only it agreed to disarm.

“If [Hamas] demilitarizes, maybe they could stay there a little bit… be involved politically.”

This is the equivalent of asking Al-Qaeda to run for office after 9/11. It is an insult to every Israeli family still mourning their dead and searching for hostages. It is a betrayal of justice and a violation of truth.

And yet, Witkoff insists this is diplomacy.

This article is the first part of a series. Make sure you check IFA’s Headline Prayer for the next part!

Share your prayers for Steve Witkoff and all those negotiating in the Middle East below.

(Photo Credit: MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)