Hamas to Remain in Doha if Beneficial to Israel Mediation: Qatar
Hamas's political leadership will continue to stay in Doha, Qatar, as long as their presence is beneficial to mediation efforts aimed at ending the war in Gaza and releasing prisoners, according to Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari.
Hamas has been in Doha since 2012 with the support of the United States, and Qatar has been involved in recent negotiations for a truce and hostage release.
Qatar announced last week that it is reassessing its role as a mediator in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.
The decision came after failed attempts to bring about a ceasefire during Ramadan.
Speculation arose that Hamas members may be asked to leave Qatar, but no decision has been made yet.
Qatar has faced criticism from Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for its mediation efforts.
Despite this, Qatar continues to host the largest US military base in the region.
Ansari, the spokesperson for the Palestinian negotiating team, announced on Tuesday that the team would re-evaluate their efforts to revive peace talks due to political attacks against Qatari mediation from Israeli ministers.
Ansari accused the ministers of lying about the nature and details of Qatari involvement in previous peace negotiations.