Qatar pressuring Hamas leaders to leave the country

Doha reportedly working to expel Hamas’ leadership from Qatar as backlash against the terror group over its continuing ties to Iran.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

Qatar is working to expel senior leaders of Hamas from its territory, according to a Palestinian media report, amid an ongoing backlash against the Gaza-based terror group over its ties to Iran following Iranian attacks on the Gulf Arab state.

The report, published by Al-Watan and citing an unnamed Palestinian source, said Qatari authorities informed Hamas officials that they must leave the country within a defined timeframe, though no specific deadline was disclosed.

A source familiar with the matter who spoke with the left-wing Israeli outlet Haaretz said that the demand to leave Qatar was issued about a week and a half ago.

The reported decision follows Hamas’s refusal to issue a clear condemnation of Iranian actions against Arab states, including Qatar.

During recent hostilities, Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones towards its Arab neighbors, primarily targeting Gulf countries, escalating tensions across the region.

While Hamas had previously called on Iran not to attack neighboring countries, it stopped short of condemning the strikes and emphasized its alignment with Tehran. According to the report, Hamas reserved explicit condemnation for attacks carried out by Israel and the United States against Iran.

The source cited in the Al-Watan report said that the expulsion decision came amid “increasing diplomatic pressure” and widening disagreements over recent regional developments.

Hamas leadership is now reportedly exploring alternative locations, with Turkey emerging as the leading option.

The report noted indications that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government would receive the group’s leaders “with open arms.”

The development marks a major shift in Qatar’s longstanding role as a patron for Hamas and a host for the terror group’s senior leaders, a position that has drawn scrutiny in recent years as regional alliances evolve and pressure mounts from Gulf states and Western governments.