Qatar orders Hamas to leave Doha office after US request, media says
Photo: Qatari ruler Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani at a meeting with Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Khaled Mashal in 2016 (Qatar government handout)
Following a request from the United States, Qatar informed Hamas of the need to shut down its diplomatic office in Doha. This occurred approximately ten days ago, according to The Times of Israel.
The US official stated that Hamas' execution of American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, along with five other hostages, in late August and the subsequent refusal to accept ceasefire proposals led Washington to reconsider its position on Hamas' presence in Doha.
The US administration now considers such a presence in the Qatari capital "no longer viable or acceptable."
Hamas' presence in Qatar
It is important to note that Qatar has hosted Hamas representatives in Doha since 2012 at the request of US administrations that considered it essential to maintain a communication channel with the group.
After the Hamas attack on October 7, the US informed Qatar that it could no longer maintain "business as usual" with the terrorist group. However, Washington did not initially ask Doha to close Hamas' office, considering it critically important for negotiations on a ceasefire and hostage agreements.
In November of last year, such negotiations resulted in a one-week deal, but it failed to secure a lasting ceasefire between Israel and Hamas or the release of over a hundred hostages held by the militants.
Additionally, Washington's new decision coincided with the unsealing of indictments against Hamas officials, including one of the group's leaders, Khaled Mashal, who resides in Doha, as reported by an American official.
About ten days ago, after the US request, Qatar informed Hamas that the organization must now close its diplomatic office in Doha, according to high-ranking officials in the Biden administration speaking to The Times of Israel.
“After rejecting repeated proposals to release hostages, its leaders should no longer be welcome in the capitals of any American partner,” a second senior administration official tells The Times of Israel.
Qatar agrees to expel Hamas officials
Another US official noted that two weeks ago, Washington requested Qatar expel Hamas, and Doha agreed, notifying the US around October 28.
Israeli media also noted that Qatar has not yet confirmed that it ordered Hamas officials to leave the country, but "Qatari officials repeatedly told The Times of Israel throughout the past year that it was prepared to oust the terror group and would do so if Washington submitted a formal request to do so."
As an American official emphasized in the interview, Doha has played an "invaluable role" as a mediator throughout the conflict.
Earlier reports indicated that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the Middle East on October 21, traveling to Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
During the trip, Blinken sought to prevent the escalation and expansion of the war amid a planned Israeli strike on Iran, which supports Hamas militants, in retaliation for the October 1 missile attack.
Additionally, in mid-August, media reports stated that Qatar's Prime Minister had urged Iran to carefully consider the possibility of attacking Israel.
