Qatar may expel Hamas leaders from country

Qatar is ready to comply with the US request and expel from the country the leaders of the Palestinian group Hamas, recognized as terrorist by the US and the European Union, if necessary. This was reported by The Times of Israel, citing sources.

According to The Washington Post, in April, the head of the US State Department, Antony Blinken, in a conversation with the leadership of Qatar, said it was necessary to expel the leadership of Hamas if the group continues to reject proposals for a deal with Israel on the release of hostages and a ceasefire.

Interlocutor The Times of Israel notedthat Washington may turn to Qatar with a corresponding request if Hamas once again rejects the deal, which the parties are scheduled to discuss on Saturday, May 4, in Cairo. Source The Washington Post clarifiedthat the Qatari authorities have already advised representatives of the Palestinian group to choose a new place to live in advance.

Today, a Hamas delegation headed to Cairo for negotiations. Egypt, Qatar and the United States act as mediators between Israel and the Palestinians. According to Reuters, CIA chief William Burns has already arrived in the Egyptian capital to participate in the meetings.

Israel has been conducting military operations in the Gaza Strip since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. Then more than 1,200 civilians were killed, more than 250 people were taken hostage and taken to Gaza.

Negotiations to end hostilities have been ongoing for several months without a decisive breakthrough. Israel says it intends to destroy Hamas. The group says it wants a permanent ceasefire and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Late last month, Egypt made a new attempt to resume negotiations. Cairo is alarmed by the prospect of an Israeli ground operation against Hamas in Rafah, in southern Gaza on the border with Egypt, where more than one million Palestinian refugees are being held.

On April 27, Egypt handed over to Hamas an Israeli initiative that would release 20 to 40 hostages held by radicals in Gaza in exchange for a ceasefire.

Egyptian sources say both sides have made some concessions recently, leading to progress in negotiations, although Israel continues to insist that an operation in Rafah is imminent.

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