Politico: The last days of the Hamas office in Qatar?
Politico newspaper published on Thursday that after Hamas releases all prisoners, the administration of US President Biden will consider its demand from Qatar to close Hamas office in Doha.
Politico reported, “Serious internal talks are expected to take place about whether to claim Qatar, according to three US officials, and early indications indicate that Hamas will have to find a new home”.
It quoted a senior US administration official as saying, “We have made clear that after October 7, there can be no more business as usual with Hamas… This is a discussion that we will continue to have with partners in the region”.
Politico noted that Qatar’s ambassador to the United States said that the office moved to Doha after a request from Washington to establish indirect lines of communication with Hamas.
According to Politico, “If the United States had requested that Hamas office operate in Qatar, it could effectively order its closure and expel its leadership… Qatar may reject the request, but US officials and experts say that Doha will fulfill Washington’s desire”.
According to Politico, “US officials believe that the channel has proven its importance, and some have expressed their fear that Hamas, if expelled, could find a home in a more hostile country such as Syria or Iran, but these fears don’t overshadow the prevailing feeling in Washington that the current situation is unsustainable.
