Hamas leaders leave Qatar at government's request

The militant officials will reportedly travel to Lebanon, Malaysia and Turkey

i24NEWS
i24NEWS
2 min read
2 min read
 ■ 
Qatar hosts the largest US airbase in the Gulf region, which is crucial to operations against Islamic State group jihadists
Qatar hosts the largest US airbase in the Gulf region, which is crucial to operations against Islamic State group jihadistsEric Feferberg (AFP/File)

Palestinian sources on Monday confirmed that Hamas officials based in Qatar had left the country.

Israel's Haaretz newspaper reports that the militant leaders will travel to Lebanon, Malaysia and Turkey. Among those who have left the country are Saleh al-Arouri, a military commander overseeing West Bank terror cells, who has traveled to Malaysia. Musa Dudin, who founded a Gaza cell responsible for the planning of terror attacks in the West Bank, has also reportedly moved.

Over the weekend, Lebanese channel Al Miyadin reported that the government in Qatar issued a list to the of names of those who needed to leave the capital Doha. Hamas denied the reports.

Qatar reportedly expressed regret over expelling Hamas officials and said its hand was forced by "external pressure." The United States, Israel and the European Union all consider Hamas to be a terrorist organization. The confirmation of the expulsion comes on the day that Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Bahrain and Egypt all cut ties with Doha.

In May, Hamas' former political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh was named the new overall head of the Palestinian Islamist movement, replacing Khaled Mashaal who lives in Qatar. Haniyeh was expected to remain in the Gaza Strip rather than operating in exile, and it is unknown where Mashaal will be based in the future.

This article received 0 comments

Comments