Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Doha of funding an anti-Israel propaganda machine during a speech to the United Nations General Assembly. Netanyahu stated that Qatar has spent billions to "brainwash young minds" through the massive funding of American universities and by spreading misinformation via media outlets such as Al-Jazeera. The Qatari government denied the allegations, with Deputy Ambassador Hamad Al-Muftah clarifying that while Doha funds campuses within Qatar's Education City, it does not dictate the internal affairs or policies of those universities on their U.S. campuses.

The address was marked by diplomatic tension as numerous delegations walked out of the hall, leaving Netanyahu to speak to a room that Al-Muftah described as "half-empty." Qatar asserted that these accusations are an attempt to shift focus away from Israel's actions in the occupied Palestinian territories. Regarding the presence of Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar noted that it serves as an indispensable mediation channel for Israel, Hamas, the United States, and Egypt.