Qatar has agreed to expel leaders of Hamas from its capital, Doha, after receiving pressure from the United States, according to a report by CNN.
This decision comes after months of failed efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and secure hostage releases in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
The United States had been pushing for Qatar to use the threat of expulsion as leverage to encourage Hamas to agree to a ceasefire.
According to sources, Qatar informed Hamas of the decision a week ago.
“Hamas is a terrorist group that has killed Americans and continues to hold Americans hostage,” a senior U.S. administration official told CNN.
The official added that “after rejecting repeated proposals to release hostages, its leaders should no longer be welcome in the capitals of any American partner.”
Qatar has hosted senior Hamas figures for years, making the country a key player in negotiations related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The small Gulf nation has served as a platform for talks, partly because of the presence of Hamas leaders in Doha.
Hamas, labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S., has refused multiple ceasefire proposals, complicating efforts to end the ongoing violence.
The final push for Qatar’s decision reportedly came after an American-Israeli hostage, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, was confirmed dead.
This tragic incident, along with Hamas’ rejection of yet another ceasefire, led U.S. officials to demand that Qatar cut ties with the militant group.
For President Joe Biden and his administration, securing a ceasefire and hostages’ release has been a top priority.
However, with talks at a standstill, the U.S. found itself asking Qatar to take decisive action against Hamas.
The United States has made it clear that any of its allies should not offer sanctuary to Hamas leaders.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Justice took legal action against some Hamas leaders over the October 7 attack on Israel, one of the deadliest attacks in the conflict’s recent history.
Among those charged is Khaled Meshaal, who is believed to be residing in Qatar.
In the coming weeks, it is expected that Hamas leaders will have to find a new base outside Qatar.
While Turkey is considered a possible option, the U.S. might oppose this choice for the same reasons it urged Qatar to cut ties with the group.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had reportedly warned Qatar as early as the summer about the need to pressure Hamas.
Blinken emphasized that unless Hamas agreed to stop the violence in Gaza, the group’s leaders would be at risk of losing their refuge in Doha.
This push by the U.S. reflects a growing international frustration with Hamas’ actions and its refusal to consider peaceful solutions.
For Qatar, the decision to expel Hamas represents a shift in its policy towards the conflict and its relationship with the U.S.
Qatar has often walked a diplomatic tightrope, balancing its role as a mediator in the Middle East with its partnerships with Western allies.
By removing Hamas from Doha, Qatar could strengthen its ties with the U.S. while reducing the pressures associated with hosting a controversial group.
