Qatar Reportedly Urged by US to Expel Hamas Leaders Within a Month as Gaza Ceasefire Stalls
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim Bids Welcome to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Doha
(Source: AFP)
Qatar is under a bit of pressure from Uncle Sam, who wants the country to evict Hamas’s political bigwigs by the end of the next month. This inside scoop comes from two insiders who spilled the beans to The National over the weekend.
Qatar has acted as a cozy haven for these Palestinian leaders since 2012 after Khaled Meshaal moved there from Syria. Meshaal had been the head honcho of Hamas for over 20 years until 2017. It’s now decision time, and some of the Hamas leadership might be packing their bags. The whisper is they’ve got their eye on nations like Iraq, Iran, and Algeria for their new basecamp. Turkey’s also in the mix, given Hamas’s business dealings in the country. In fact, Hamas already has some roots set up in Iraq, Iran, and Turkey.
However, Mahmoud Taha, who leads the media relations for Hamas in Lebanon, isn’t buying it. He says no one in Qatar has told them to skedaddle. “We’re carrying on in Qatar,” he declared, emphasizing their bond with Qatar is still rock-solid.
Regarding whispers about Khaled Meshaal and Khalil Al Hayya, Taha was firm, stating that Hamas remains committed to its political and military ambitions until their demands are met, including ending the Israeli occupation and ensuring the release of prisoners from Gaza.
This decision to give Hamas the boot hasn’t come out of the blue. Following months of failed negotiations spearheaded by the US, Qatar, and Egypt, there hasn’t been any headway in ending the war in Gaza or securing hostages held by Hamas since October 2023. “Booting them out is a power move by the US and its buddies to make Hamas cave,” one source said, adding that Hamas has about a month to sort out their stuff and move out.
While the official word from Qatar remains elusive, it’s been said that the presence of Hamas in Doha hinged on ongoing dialogues aimed at resolving the Gaza conflict. Apparently, Qatar hinted at expelling Hamas way back during the early ceasefire talks but hadn’t pulled the trigger until now.
How many Hamas officials are currently in Qatar is still murky, but sources say it includes key players like Mr. Al Hayya, Meshaal, Osama Hamdan, Moussa Abu Marzouq, and Zaher Jabarin. Tragically, other prominent figures, including Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh, have met fatal ends in recent months, with Israel bearing the blame for these targeted killings.
The news of a potential expulsion hits the airwaves just days after the dramatic return of Donald Trump to the presidential stage, who will make his way back to the White House in January.
In tandem, a senior US admin official confided in Reuters that after Hamas frowned at the latest ceasefire proposal, the US made it clear to Qatar that harboring Hamas wasn’t kosher anymore. “Capitals allied with the US shouldn’t be rolling out the welcome mat for Hamas leaders,” the official asserted, adding that the US made its stance clear to Qatar a few weeks back.
It’s understood that Qatar pitched the ultimatum to Hamas about 10 days back. Meanwhile, the US is working with Qatar on a closure date for Hamas’s political digs in Doha.
The saga doesn’t end there. A group of 14 Republican senators chimed in, urging the Department of State to freeze Hamas officials’ assets in Qatar and urging extradition and an end to Qatar’s hospitality for the Hamas upper echelons.
Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, however, defended their decision to house Hamas by saying it was all about facilitating talks, and unless that utility ran dry, they’d keep the door open.
The backdrop to all these swirling disputes? The ignition of the Gaza conflict, instigated by a perilous Hamas strike on southern Israel last October, ended in tragic losses: 1,200 Israelis lost their lives, and 250 souls were kidnapped. Israel retaliated with sheer force, resulting in over 43,500 Palestinian fatalities and injuries counting beyond detection, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
The overwhelming onslaught has turned many of Gaza’s edifices into dust and has ushered in a dire humanitarian calamity. Northern Gaza teeters on the edge of famine, with Israeli military undertakings persisting well over a month.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
