Hamas Leaders No Longer in Doha, Qatar Says Office Not Permanently Closed
Qatar’s government and a senior Palestinian official confirmed that the most senior Hamas leader outside of Gaza, along with other key members of its negotiating team, are no longer based in Doha. However, Qatar’s foreign ministry clarified that Hamas’s office in the capital is not permanently closed, as it no longer serves a function following Qatar’s suspension of its mediation efforts for a Gaza ceasefire.
The spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry emphasized that the office’s closure was not permanent, stating that a decision to shut it down would be announced directly by Qatar. He added that the current absence of Hamas leaders in Doha is due to the suspension of the mediation process, noting that the office was initially established to facilitate negotiations.
A Palestinian official, speaking to the BBC, confirmed that Hamas negotiators had altered their presence in the region, keeping their locations private to avoid causing embarrassment to host countries. It was speculated that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh might be in Turkey, given his recent visits there.
The official also denied reports suggesting that Qatar had explicitly asked Hamas leaders to leave. However, it appears that Qatar is carefully navigating its relationship with both the current U.S. administration under President Joe Biden and the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump to avoid any diplomatic tensions.
Qatar has hosted Hamas’s political bureau since 2012, playing a significant role in facilitating indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel. However, recent developments indicate a shift in this relationship. Earlier in November, Qatar announced it had paused efforts to broker a ceasefire, citing a lack of willingness from both sides to end the conflict.
In response to questions about the presence of Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari confirmed that members of Hamas’s negotiating team are no longer in the city, noting, “They move between different capitals.” He also emphasized that any news of a permanent office closure would come directly from the Qatari government.
Hamas, in a statement on Telegram, denied reports from Israeli media that suggested Hamas leadership had left Qatar for Turkey. The Turkish foreign ministry also rejected these claims, asserting that while members of Hamas’s political bureau occasionally visit Turkey, they have not relocated there.
The U.S. State Department, through spokesperson Matthew Miller, expressed its opposition to Hamas leadership living comfortably in any major city, particularly those in allied nations like Turkey. Miller reiterated that several Hamas leaders are under U.S. indictment and should be handed over to the United States.
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Turkey, which does not classify Hamas as a terrorist organization, has often hosted members of the group. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has defended Hamas as a resistance movement and criticized Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas intensified following the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas militants, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. In retaliation, Israel launched a military operation aimed at dismantling Hamas. Since then, more than 43,970 people have died in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
During a visit to Gaza on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to ensuring that Hamas would not be allowed to govern Gaza after the war, vowing to bring all hostages back home safely. Israel has offered a reward for information leading to the return of hostages still being held by Hamas.
