The Gulf Arab state was weighing whether to allow Hamas to continue operating the political office, and the broader review includes considering whether to continue mediating in the seven-month conflict, the official told Reuters.
Qatar announced last month that it was reassessing its role as a mediator in indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, citing concerns that its efforts were being undermined by politicians seeking to score points.
“If Qatar is not going to mediate, they will see no point in maintaining political office. “So that’s part of the reassessment,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The official did not know whether Hamas would be asked to leave Doha if the Qatari government decided to close the group’s office. However, the official said Qatar’s own review of its role would be influenced by how Israel and Hamas act during the ongoing negotiations.
In a report on Friday, The Washington Post cited an unnamed US official as saying that Washington had told Doha to expel Hamas if the group continued to reject a ceasefire deal with Israel.
Hamas negotiators arrived in Cairo on Saturday to intensify talks on a possible force in Gaza that would allow the return of some hostages to Israel, a Hamas official told Reuters.
Qatar has hosted Hamas political leaders since 2012 as part of an agreement with the United States.
Ismail Haniyeh, the group’s leader, lives in Doha and has traveled frequently, including to Turkey, since Hamas’ Oct. 1 military operation. 7.
Qatar, an influential Persian Gulf state that Washington has designated as an important non-NATO ally, has been criticized since last year by the United States and Israel for its ties to Hamas.
Some US lawmakers have called on President Joe Biden’s administration to reassess its ties with Qatar if it does not pressure Hamas to reach a deal to free the hostages. Others have urged Qatar to cut ties with Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also called on Qatar to put pressure on Hamas. Qatar and Israel have no formal ties but their officials meet to discuss mediation efforts.