Qatar says reports about Hamas office in Doha are 'inaccurate'
3 Min Read
Hamas underlines that it had not received any memo regarding the closure of its bureau in Doha after Qatar withdrew from the ceasefire talks for Gaza.
-
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani attends a press conference in Doha, Qatar, on Thursday, October 24, 2024. (AP)
The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, has not received any request to leave the Qatari capital, Doha, sources told Al Mayadeen on Saturday.
"Communications between the Hamas leadership and Qatari officials remain ongoing," the sources confirmed.
The report noted that Hamas has developed alternative plans to potentially relocate its offices if necessary.
Earlier, a diplomatic source told AFP that Qatar has stepped back from its role as a key mediator in the ceasefire negotiations for Gaza and has warned Hamas that its Doha office "no longer serves its purpose" if progress for a deal remains stalled.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry confirmed the report about the suspension of diplomatic efforts. However, it declared that recent reports about the Hamas office in Doha were "inaccurate", stressing that the primary purpose of the office is to serve as a communication channel between concerned parties.
Qatar had notified relevant parties ten days in advance that it would suspend its mediation efforts if an agreement was not reached, the Ministry said. Additionally, it emphasized that Qatar would not tolerate its mediation role being used to pressure or exploit the country, noting that it has observed a "manipulation" through retractions from previously agreed-upon commitments.
Long-term mediation efforts
Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, had been working for months to broker a truce that would include the release of captives and detainees, but these efforts have yet to yield progress.
"The Qataris informed both the Israelis and Hamas that as long as there is a refusal to negotiate a deal in good faith, they cannot continue to mediate," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. As a result, Qatar conveyed to Hamas that its political office in Doha "no longer serves its purpose."
Qatar’s decision has been officially communicated to both the Israeli occupation and Hamas, as well as to the US administration. The source noted that Qatar was open to re-engaging in mediation if both parties demonstrated a sincere commitment to returning to negotiations.
Hamas' political bureau in Qatar, however, had not "received any request from the authorities to leave the country," a senior source in the movement told the Russian Ria Novosti.
"We have nothing to confirm or deny regarding what was published by an unidentified diplomatic source and we have not received any request to leave Qatar," the official said from Doha, after a diplomatic source told AFP.
'Extended war'
Hamas political bureau member Izzat al-Rish had underlined earlier in November that the Israeli occupation's recent ceasefire proposals for a few days in Gaza are merely "for throwing dust in the eyes," noting that they do not include a halt to aggression, a withdrawal, or the return of displaced people.
On Saturday, al-Rishq explained that Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is stalling with the aim of buying time and has been using negotiations as a coverup to pursue his aggression.
In parallel, al-Rishq underscored, "We are open to any proposals or ideas that ensure the end of aggression and the withdrawal of the occupation forces from Gaza," adding that "the concerted roles game between the occupation and the US administration continues in Lebanon, just as it does in Gaza."
