Top leaders of Hamas, a pro-independence group based in the Palestinian territory of Gaza, have left Qatar. However, the political office of Hamas in the country's capital, Doha, has not yet been closed. The group's top leaders are rumored to have left Qatar for Turkey, but this has not been confirmed. Therefore, in this situation, the question arises as to where the Hamas leaders have taken refuge after leaving Qatar.
A Qatari government official and a senior Palestinian official confirmed the matter to the British media BBC. They said Khalil al-Hayya, the deputy head of Hamas and mediator of Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks, was among the leaders who left Qatar.
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar said that the activities of the Hamas office are closed for the time being. The issue came at a time when Qatar withdrew from Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks. The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar said that the office of Hamas has not been permanently closed yet.
A Palestinian official, who did not wish to be named, told the BBC that Hamas negotiators have kept their positions secret. So that the country or countries that give them shelter do not fall into any kind of embarrassing situation. However, he said, Khalil Al-Hayya is probably in Turkey. Because he has visited there several times in the last two months.
Qatar has allowed Hamas to operate political offices in Doha since 2012. But Qatar withdrew as a mediator after ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas collapsed. Earlier this month, Qatar said it was halting efforts to negotiate a cease-fire in Gaza and would resume talks “when the parties show a sincere interest in ending the war.”
Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, said last Tuesday, “Hamas negotiators are not in Doha now. They are traveling to the capital of different countries.' He also said, 'The office of Hamas in Doha was mainly for the negotiation process. Currently the office is not functioning as there is no mediation. But if the office is closed permanently, we will inform it directly.'
Meanwhile, Hamas leaders have taken refuge in Turkey—reports were published in the Israeli media, including the Times of Israel, among other platforms. However, a telegram message from Hamas said, “The news that some Israeli media outlets have published about Hamas leaders leaving Qatar for Turkey is false.”
The Turkish Foreign Ministry also denied the matter. According to a report of the Turkish media NTV, 'Hamas political leaders sometimes visit Turkey. However, the news of their office being transferred to Turkey is baseless.
Meanwhile, in response to the news of Hamas leaders taking refuge in Turkey, the US State Department spokesman said, “We believe that the leaders of any terrorist organization should not have the opportunity to live comfortably anywhere.” He also said, 'Some Hamas leaders are accused in the United States. We want them to be handed over to us.'
Türkiye does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization and Hamas leaders often spend time there. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan supports Hamas as a resistance movement and has been a vocal critic of the Israeli offensive in Gaza.
