Kochi: Hamas leaders have been asked to quit Qatar as part of US’ request to end Qatar’s support for the group, media reports said.
The US request comes in the wake of the militant group’s rejection of recent ceasefire and hostage exchange proposals. Qatar has housed Hamas’ political leaders for over a decade as part of an agreement to facilitate negotiations, particularly during the intense fight between Hamas and Israel.
Qatar, US and Egypt, held several rounds of negotiations to end the violence in Gaza in recent months while Hamas rejected a recent ceasefire offer in mid-October.
Israel’s retaliatory strikes have left an estimated 43,000 Palestinians dead and caused widespread destruction.
Qatar’s role as a mediator came in for criticism from 14 US lawmakers who recently urged the Department of States to impose sanctions on Hamas officials and their extradition, the reports said.
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