Qatar asks Hamas officials to leave country after US pressure: report

A source told Reuters Hamas leaders were ordered to leave the country after a US request to end support for Qatar.
In a series of high-profile communications, Washington has informed Qatar that Hamas’ continued presence in Doha has prompted the militant group’s rejection of a recent cease-fire and hostage exchange offer, prompting Qatar to deliver a similar message to Hamas leaders about ten days earlier. .
Highlighting the US position, a US official told Reuters, “After rejecting repeated offers to release the hostages, its leaders should no longer be welcomed in the capital of any US partner. We made this clear to Qatar after Hamas’ rejection weeks ago.
Despite U.S. urging, three Hamas officials have denied that Qatar has formally asked them to leave.
Since 2012, Qatar has hosted Hamas political leaders during periods of heightened conflict between Hamas and Israel, particularly as part of an agreement to facilitate dialogue. In recent months, Qatar has led several rounds of talks with the US and Egypt to end the violence in Gaza – a goal that has proved elusive since Hamas rejected a recent ceasefire proposal in mid-October.
Israel’s retaliatory strikes have devastated Gaza, killing an estimated 43,000 Palestinians and causing widespread destruction. Meanwhile, the recent election of Republican Donald Trump as the next US president has reportedly capped the final weeks of President Biden’s administration.
A previous round of talks saw the plans fall apart, with Israel presenting new conditions, including a possible military presence in Gaza, which Hamas saw as moving “last-minute goalposts”. in Gaza, allowing the release of hostages and the flow of humanitarian aid, but hostilities soon resumed.
Qatar’s longstanding role as a mediator has come under fire from US lawmakers. Fourteen Republican senators recently wrote to the State Department urging sanctions on Hamas officials living in Qatar, calling for their extradition, and urging Qatar to “end its hospitality” to Hamas.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani defended the country’s hosting of Hamas officials, saying their presence would facilitate necessary diplomatic talks.