Several senior Hamas leaders residing outside the Gaza Strip have been in Turkey for several days, according to a revelation by the Israeli public channel Kan 11. This trip comes as Qatar announced last week to Israel and Hamas that he ceased his role as mediator in the negotiations for a hostage agreement. In a statement, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said Doha would resume its mediation efforts “when the seriousness necessary to end the war is present.”
According to a diplomatic source, there is “a refusal to negotiate an agreement in good faith, which is why the Qataris can no longer continue to play mediators.” The source added that “Hamas' political office no longer serves its purpose,” confirming Qatar's message to Hamas leaders that they were no longer welcome in the emirate.
An American source also confirmed the authenticity of the Qatari message. According to her, after Hamas's persistent refusal to accept an agreement for the release of the hostages, including the partial agreement discussed at the Doha summit after the elimination of Sinwar, the Hamas leadership no longer has a place in the Qatar. “The leaders of Hamas no longer have their place in the capital of a partner state of the United States,” said the American source.
It is not yet clear whether this transfer of Hamas leaders to Turkey is directly linked to the end of Qatari mediation and the message transmitted to the leadership of the movement, revealed last week by Kan, telling them that they were no longer welcome in the emirate.
