The move comes amid growing frustration over the lack of progress in a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Qatar has announced it will suspend mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel until both parties demonstrate a “willingness and seriousness” to end the war in Gaza.
Qatari Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Majid Al Ansari said in a statement published in Saturday’s X that Qatar informed the parties concerned of its intentions 10 days ago.
The Associated Press reported early Saturday that diplomatic sources said Hamas’ political office in Qatar “no longer serves its purpose.”
However, al-Ansari said reports about Hamas’s political office in Doha were inaccurate, saying: “The main purpose of the Qatar office is to be a means of communication between the parties.” .
A senior Hamas official said he was aware of Qatar’s decision to halt mediation efforts, but added: “No one is telling us to leave.”
In Washington, U.S. officials said the Biden administration notified Qatar two weeks ago that the continued operation of the Hamas office in Doha was no longer useful and the Hamas delegation should be expelled.
“Having rejected repeated offers to release the hostages,[Hamas]leaders should no longer be welcome in the capitals of U.S. partner countries.A few weeks ago, Hamas rejected another offer to release the hostages. In response, we made that clear to Qatar,” a senior U.S. official said.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office did not comment.
Qatar’s announcement came as frustration grew over the lack of progress on the ceasefire agreement.
The Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza and the Israeli-Hezbollah war in Lebanon remain with no end in sight, with the Israeli military announcing overnight attacks on a command center and other infrastructure in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Three separate Israeli attacks killed at least 16 people, including women and children, in Gaza on Saturday, Palestinian medical officials said, while Israel launched its first attack on northern Gaza in weeks, where starvation and devastation continue. It was announced that humanitarian aid supplies had been delivered to
