Year after year, successive Netanyahu cabinets approved moves that had the effect of easing pressure on Hamas: Israel agreed to periodic prisoner releases, the transfer of money from Qatar to pay public salaries in Gaza, improve infrastructure and, critics say, fund Hamas military operations.
The prime minister hoped to prevent any reconciliation between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, even when the two sides came close to rapprochement in 2018.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...s-israel-gaza/
Why would I walk you through something I never claimed?
Hamas existed and said they were going to do such things to destroy Israel. Netanyahu wanted to keep Hamas existing to prevent any unification of Palestinians under one governmental authority.
The face-eating leopard ate his face.