Qatar Establishes Presence in Jerusalem via Hospital Funding

JERUSALEM (Israel Hayom) – St. Joseph Hospital in Jerusalem, located not far from National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s office, announced last night the signing of a “grant and cooperation agreement with the Qatar Fund for Development, known as QFFD.”

According to the hospital’s announcement, the partnership aims to “transform St. Joseph Hospital-Jerusalem into an academic medical institution and provide clinical training for students in various health professions.” The statement further noted that the project is “funded and supported by four partners: the French Development Agency (AFD), the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), the European Union, and St. Joseph Hospital.”

The signing ceremony for the agreement took place in Doha, Qatar, on December 8, 2025. Jamil Kusa, the hospital’s director general, said, “We are deeply grateful for the generous support of the Qatar Fund for Development. This partnership is not just a financial agreement; it is a lifeline for thousands of patients who rely on our services. This cooperation will enable us to renovate our facilities, and most importantly – expand our reach to those who need it most.”

A general view of Jerusalem shows the Dome of the Rock, located in Jerusalem’s Old City (Photo: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)
Ran Ichay, head of research at the Jerusalem Center for Applied Policy (JCAP), responded by saying that “Qatar, the major supporter of Hamas alongside Turkey’s Erdogan, continues to buy its way into Jerusalem with substantial funding. Its consistent ally is France, which throughout the war has demonstrated an almost consistently anti-Israel policy.”

Ichay, former Israeli ambassador to Kazakhstan and former director general of the Ministry of Jerusalem, added, “France, in its foolishness and inherent anti-Israel stance, joins Qatar, and not for the first time, including support for radical Islam, incitement, and terrorism. Now the consistent channel is the French St. Joseph Hospital in Jerusalem, located near the National Headquarters and the National Security Minister’s office on one side, and the Turkish consulate, which is another hub for subversion in the city, on the other.”