Hamas’ Future in Qatar Hangs in the Balance
The political headquarters of the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Qatar could be facing a move, according to recent developments.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Hamas has been in talks with two regional governments to potentially host its leaders instead of Qatar, which has been their base for over a decade. Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh also recently met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Hamas already has an office in Turkey.
Pressure has been mounting on Qatar to expel Hamas leadership, particularly from Republican lawmakers in the United States. Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer has also called for Qatar to take action if progress is not made on releasing Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
Qatar has responded by saying that “threatening the mediator is not constructive.” However, the country’s Prime Minister has indicated that they are reassessing their role in mediation, citing “political exploitation.”
Hamas leaders have hinted at flexibility on their location, which could undermine the assumption that relocation would pressure the group. Mousa Abu Marzouk, a longtime member of Hamas’ governing body, argued that Hamas has other options and that the U.S. and Israel have no choice but to engage with them.
The outcome of the location debate will have significant implications for Hamas, the prospects for peace in Gaza, and the US’s engagement with the group. If Hamas moves to Turkey, for example, President Erdogan could leverage the situation to ensure that any Israeli-Palestinian settlement is beneficial for Turkish interests.
Conversely, if Hamas is successfully dislodged from Qatar, the organization could use complaints about aggressive steps by Israel and its advocates to gain leverage in future negotiations.
