The political leadership of Hamas is reportedly considering moving its headquarters outside Qatar over increasing criticism from members of the US Congress for the Gulf nation’s support for the Palestinian resistance movement, according to Arab mediators who spoke with the Wall street journal
However, in comments to The Cradle, an official within Hamas denied the WSJ report, calling it “baseless news” and stressing that there is “no change” in the relationship with Doha.
“In the world of politics and interests, nothing is fixed, but as of the moment of writing this letter, the assessment of the situation is that there is no change in the relationship with Qatar,” the source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.
The US financial newspaper earlier quoted Arab officials as saying that Hamas had recently communicated with at least two countries in the region, including the Sultanate of Oman, about the possibility of its political leaders moving to their capitals.
The WSJ indicated that Hamas’s departure from Qatar could disrupt talks to reach a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement to release dozens of Israelis held captive in Gaza, and hundreds of the many thousands of Palestinians held captive in Israel. Such a departure may also make it difficult for Israel and the US to convey messages to Hamas, which Washington classifies as a terrorist organization, the WSJ added.
An informed Arab mediator told the newspaper: “The talks have already stopped again, with little sign or possibility of resuming them anytime soon, and the lack of trust is growing between Hamas and the negotiators.”
Another Arab mediator said: “The possibility of the ceasefire talks collapsing completely has become very possible.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the religious settler ministers in his coalition government have shown little interest in winning the release of the Israelis held captive by Hamas since 7 October.
