A government official knowledgeable about Qatari policies has stated that Doha might shut down the political office of Hamas as part of a broader Qatari review of its role as a mediator in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
The official, speaking to Reuters on the condition of anonymity, noted that Qatar is reassessing whether it will allow Hamas to continue operating the political office and whether it will continue to mediate in the conflict that has been ongoing for seven months.
Last month, Qatar stated that it is reassessing its role as a mediator in indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, citing concerns that politicians aiming to score points are undermining its efforts. “If Qatar does not mediate, then it sees no benefit in retaining the political office. Thus, this is part of the reassessment,” the official remarked. However, it is not clear if Hamas leaders would be asked to leave Doha if the Qatari government decides to close the movement’s office.
The review by Qatar will be influenced by how Israel and Hamas act during ongoing negotiations. A Washington Post report on Friday cited an unnamed U.S. official stating that Washington has requested Doha to “expel Hamas” if the movement continues to refuse a ceasefire agreement with Israel. A Hamas official told Reuters that negotiators from the movement arrived in Cairo on Saturday to intensify talks on a potential ceasefire in Gaza that would see some hostages returned to Israel.
Hamas’s political leaders have been hosted by Qatar since 2012 as part of an agreement with the United States. The leader of the movement, Ismail Haniyeh, resides in Doha and has traveled frequently, including to Turkey, since the events of October 7. Some U.S. lawmakers have called on President Joe Biden’s administration to reassess its relations with Qatar if it does not pressure Hamas to reach an agreement to release the hostages, while others have urged Qatar to cut ties with Hamas.
The headquarters of Hamas were originally located in Syria, where the organization had its main external offices since the early 1990s. However, due to the outbreak of the Syrian civil war and political pressures, Hamas leadership relocated to Qatar in 2012. This move was partly facilitated by the U.S., which saw Qatar as a more accessible location for establishing communications with Hamas compared to Iran, Hamas’s main backer at the time.
Recently, there have been talks about Hamas potentially moving its headquarters again, due to increasing pressures and complexities in the region, particularly concerning ongoing negotiations and the role of mediators in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Reports suggest that Hamas leaders have been considering relocating their base from Qatar, with Oman being one of the potential new locations.
