By Senior U.S. officials have informed Qatar that Washington will no longer accept Hamas’s presence in the Gulf state, marking a significant shift in regional diplomacy as the Biden administration intensifies efforts to broker peace in Gaza before leaving office in January, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.
The demand, first reported by Reuters citing anonymous U.S. officials, indicates Qatar agreed 10 days ago to tell Hamas to close its political office, which has operated in Doha since 2012. Hamas officials denied these reports to the BBC, while Qatari authorities have not commented on the situation.
The potential expulsion of Hamas from Qatar, which hosts America’s largest regional military base, could dramatically reshape diplomatic channels in the Middle East. Qatar has served as a crucial intermediary in negotiations involving Iran, the Taliban, Russia, and most recently, attempting to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
“I think we’re in the last phase before Hamas is forced to relocate,” said Dr. H A Hellyer, senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. “The writing on the wall has been there for months.”
Should Hamas leave Doha, Turkey emerges as a likely alternative base. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted former Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Istanbul last April, discussing humanitarian aid to Gaza and regional peace prospects. Iran presents another option, though the July assassination of Haniyeh in Tehran raises security concerns about operating from there.
The pressure on Hamas comes amid growing U.S. frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approach to ending the conflict. Recently fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant accused Netanyahu of rejecting a peace deal against security chiefs’ advice. Meanwhile, Hamas has rejected short-term ceasefire proposals, demanding a complete end to hostilities and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
The timing of this diplomatic maneuver appears influenced by the upcoming U.S. presidential transition. While Donald Trump, who leads in polls, has said Israel should “finish what they started” in Gaza, reports suggest he wants fighting concluded before his potential inauguration. During his previous term, Trump took several pro-Israel stances, including relocating the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem.
“By setting red lines and allowing Netanyahu to cross them without consequence, the Biden administration effectively encouraged further impunity,” Hellyer said. “I don’t think any of this will change in the next 10 weeks.”
The European Council of Foreign Relations reports Hamas has adopted a “temporary model of collective leadership” following Israeli assassinations of key figures, including Yahya Sinwar in Gaza, who orchestrated the October 7 attack on Israel.
As humanitarian conditions in Gaza deteriorate, with UN officials warning of “apocalyptic” conditions and imminent famine in northern areas, pressure mounts on all parties to find a resolution. The success of this latest U.S. diplomatic gambit may depend on Qatar’s willingness to comply, testing the limits of a historically reliable alliance.
bbc.com
