Qatar has grown increasingly frustrated with “political exploitation” from all sides involved in the months-long Gaza peace talks it has hosted, and has warned Hamas that it can no longer operate in its own country without support from the Biden administration. Fox News Digital has learned that they were told they were not welcome.
US officials urge Qatar to remove Hamas political officials after the group rejected a proposal to release even a “small number of hostages” at a recent meeting following the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. He said the request was made by the Biden administration.
The United States took this position following the October 7 killing of American hostage Hersh Goldberg Pollin.
However, another diplomatic source briefed on the matter said that “both sides have repeatedly refused to participate in negotiations, except under certain conditions, and have not shown any willingness to work constructively.” He said it was Qatar’s own decision to ask.
According to the official, Qatar has told U.S. officials, Hamas and Israel that it does not accept “political exploitation aimed at gaining political influence at Qatar’s expense while misleading the public’s perception.” He reportedly warned her that she would not be able to do so.
“The Qatari side concluded that the mediation efforts were becoming more about politics and elections than a serious attempt at peace, and that there was not enough appetite on either side.”
“After Qatar made its decision, it notified both Israel and Hamas, as well as the U.S. government. All parties were given no advance warning and were informed after the decision was made.”
Qatar agrees to expel Hamas from Doha at request of Biden administration
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha on October 24, 2024. (Getty Images)
In response, a senior Biden administration official said: “We will introduce Qatar to talk about their decision. The United States continues to do a number of efforts to secure the release of the hostages. That work is ongoing.” .
The official breakdown of talks was reported shortly after President-elect Donald Trump won the US presidential election. But U.S. sources say the plan was in the works before the election, and that the Biden administration asked Qatar to withdraw Hamas about two weeks ago, and that Qatar announced about 10 days ago that it would no longer welcome Hamas. He said he had been notified.
Another person familiar with the matter disputes that the Biden administration asked Qatar to remove Hamas two weeks ago, but Hamas confirmed it was informed of the decision 10 days in advance.
Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al said: “Ten days ago, in a last attempt to reach an agreement, the State of Qatar advised the parties that if no agreement is reached in this round, mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel will be stalled.” I have given notice that I will do so.” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ansari said in a statement published in X.
“The State of Qatar will not accept mediation as a reason for intimidation,” he said.
File: Palestinian terrorists from the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement, participate in a military parade to commemorate the anniversary of the 2014 war with Israel near the border in the central Gaza Strip on July 19, 2023. (MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images)
The official said those involved in the negotiations were “undermining the effort by withdrawing some of the commitments made through the negotiations and trying to make it a deal-breaker for political optics rather than a serious security issue.” “He showed a very clear attitude that he was going to do something.”
“Qatar has informed both Israel and Hamas that it cannot continue mediation unless they refuse to negotiate an agreement in good faith. As a result, Hamas’s political office can no longer serve its purpose.”
The official reiterated that Qatar had only informed Israel, Hamas and the United States that it would not host talks once a decision was reached, adding that it would return to the negotiating table once both sides were serious about ending the war. Ta.
A similar message was conveyed in April, urging Hamas members to leave for Türkiye.
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But two weeks later, the Biden administration and the Israeli government asked Qatar, which wants to continue talks, to request Hamas’s return.
Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, is trying to broker peace between Israel and Hamas. (Nathan Howard/Pool Photo via AP)
A Palestinian man walks in front of rubble after Israeli troops withdrew from the area around Kamal Adwan Hospital during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on October 26, 2024. (Reuters/Stringer)
Since the start of the war in Gaza, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani has played a key role in peace negotiations between Israel and Hamas, working with the United States and Gaza, and helped secure the release of nearly 200 hostages. said. The past year. But U.S. officials say Hamas is showing no signs of giving up on its “unrealistic” demands to maintain power in Gaza, a position the U.S. and Israel will never accept.
With Trump’s victory, the Biden administration faces a race against time to restore its foreign policy legacy, with just over two months left to secure a ceasefire agreement.
“When it comes to the Middle East, we continue to pursue an end to the war in Gaza, an end to the war in Lebanon, and increased humanitarian assistance. And it is our duty to pursue these policies until noon on the 26th.” 1 20th of May,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters this week.
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September 1, 2024 in Tel Aviv, Israel, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues in the Gaza Strip, to oppose the government and show support for the hostages kidnapped in the deadly October 7 attack. Protesters gather outside the Ministry of Defense. Reuters/Florion Goga (Reuters)
President Trump has run on a platform of negotiating an end to conflicts around the world, but he will also be keen to see peace return to the Middle East. He reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he hoped Israel would quickly win the war.
Trump and al-Thani met in Florida in September and had “productive” discussions about bringing peace to the region, the sources said.
FOX News Digital reached out to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office but did not receive a response by press time.
Israeli officials from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement to reporters welcoming Qatar’s decision, saying no country should host terrorist organizations.
era of israel “The victory of Donald Trump in this week’s election also contributed to the decision, suggesting that the Republican president-elect did not support Hamas’s continued presence in Doha,” the Israeli official said, according to the report. He also said.
