US demands Qatar to expel Hamas leadership

Washington: The United States has demanded that Qatar expel the Hamas leadership for rejecting the US agreement on the release of Israeli hostages.

According to the British news agency, the United States has given a clear message to Qatar that the presence of the Hamas leadership in Doha will no longer be accepted because the Palestinian resistance group has also rejected new proposals for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

A senior US official, speaking to the British news agency, said that a message was sent to Qatar several days ago to expel the leadership of Hamas after it rejected US new proposals related to the Hamas agreement.

The US official stated Hamas leaders could not be tolerated in the capital of any US ally after Hamas repeatedly rejected proposals for a deal to release hostages.

The American official added that Qatar had expressed the demand to the leaders of Hamas about 10 days ago that Washington had told Qatar that it was time to close the political office of Hamas after rejecting the proposals.

On the other hand, the three leaders of Hamas have rejected the news of any demand from Qatar to leave the country, while there was no response from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar to confirm the news or request for comment.

It is pertinent to note that the latest round of talks held in Doha in mid-October also failed as Hamas rejected a proposal for a short-term ceasefire.

Last year, after the October 7 attack, the US Secretary of State made it clear to other countries in the region, including Qatar, that normal relations with Hamas cannot be maintained. After the end, Hamas leaders are ready to reconsider their presence in the country.

Qatar, as a non-NATO and an influential ally of the US in the Gulf states, allowed Hamas to open a political office in Doha in 2012 under the US agreement.