Does Hamas need to close its political office in Qatar after US demand?

Hamas militants are likely to close their political offices in Qatar – a major US partner in the Middle East. It comes after the US told the Gulf nation that it is no longer acceptable to let the group have a base there.

Qatar has hosted offices of Hamas for more than 10 years. Several senior leaders of the organisation have also been residing in the country. Qatar started hosting Hamas’ political leaders in 2012 after the group left Damascus, Syria.

The US supported the development at the time, believing that it’s going to facilitate a useful channel of communication to Hamas. But in the latest update, a senior US official told Reuters that Hamas leaders should no longer be let into the capitals of any US partner.

Qatar has been hosting Hamas officials since 2012

Multiple rounds of negotiations aimed at securing an end to the conflict in Gaza have failed. Qatar has played the role of an intermediary in the talks to broker a ceasefire. Experts suggest the GCC nation is likely to agree to the US request soon.

The US official talking to Reuters on the condition of anonymity highlighted that Hamas has rejected repeated proposals to release Israeli hostages. The group still holds about 100 hostages seized during its surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

The request comes as the Biden administration in the US is preparing a final effort to end the Gaza crisis before President-elect Donald Trump assumes his role. The former president has said that he too is looking for an end to the conflict.