Qatar has recently agreed to expel Hamas from its country following a request from the US, marking the end of unsuccessful attempts to persuade the militant group to accept a ceasefire and release hostages in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The top leaders of Hamas have been residing in the Qatari capital of Doha.
Efforts to halt the war, a key focus for President Joe Biden, hit a roadblock as US officials informed Qatar to cease providing refuge to Hamas in their capital. Qatar complied with the request and notified Hamas about their expulsion about a week ago.
A senior administration official emphasized that Hamas, classified as a terrorist group responsible for American casualties and ongoing hostage situations, should no longer be welcomed in any capital of an American ally.
Throughout the conflict and negotiations for hostage release, the US had urged Qatar to leverage the threat of expulsion in their discussions with Hamas. The recent decision to expel Hamas came after the death of an American-Israeli hostage and Hamas' rejection of another ceasefire proposal.
Qatar has played a significant role in ceasefire efforts due to the presence of senior Hamas members in Doha. The timeline and destination for the exile of Hamas operatives from Qatar remain uncertain, with indications that they have a limited period to leave the country.
While Turkey is considered a potential option, the US is unlikely to endorse this due to similar concerns about providing refuge to Hamas leadership. Earlier this year, the Justice Department charged senior Hamas leaders for a terrorist attack on Israel, with one of the defendants believed to be residing in Qatar.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had previously warned Qatar to convey to Hamas that failure to cease hostilities in Gaza could result in their expulsion from Doha.
