Qatar recently agreed to expel members of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas from its territory, following a request from the United States, according to the American news channel CNN.
The United States has made it clear to Doha that Hamas’ presence in Qatar is no longer desired. In response, the latter reportedly asked the Palestinian movement to close its diplomatic office on its territory.
This request was apparently made ten days ago, after Hamas refused a proposal involving the release of Israeli hostages. On CNN, a member of the Biden administration declared that the leaders of the Palestinian movement should no longer be welcome in the capitals of countries allied with the United States.
It is not yet clear when Hamas members will be expelled from Qatar and where they will go next. A US official, however, told CNN that the group was not given much time to leave the country.
Turkey is also being considered as a possible escape option, but the United States is unlikely to approve this scenario, for the same reasons it refuses to allow Qatar to shelter Hamas leaders.
Doha plays an important role as mediator in the peace negotiations surrounding the conflict in Gaza, and therefore hosts the heads of Western governments as well as senior Hamas officials on its territory. Qatar notably received the former leader of Hamas, Ismaïl Haniyeh, before he was killed during a visit to Tehran in July.
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