theguardian.com
US Demands Closure of Hamas Offices in Qatar
The US has requested Qatar close Hamas's offices, creating tension in the ongoing Middle East conflict.
English
United Kingdom
PoliticsInternational RelationsMiddle EastIsraelUkConflictDiplomacy
HamasUs GovernmentQatarIsraelIran
Joe BidenDonald TrumpYahya SinwarBenjamin NetanyahuAntony Blinken
- Why is the US requesting that Qatar close Hamas's offices?
- The US has requested that Qatar close Hamas's offices, citing the group's refusal to release hostages and deeming their presence unacceptable. This request follows failed negotiations to end the conflict in Gaza and comes amid a final effort by the Biden administration to broker a ceasefire before the end of his term.
- What are the potential negative consequences of the US request?
- Critics argue that the US request will hinder engagement with potentially more compromising elements within Hamas and could strengthen the influence of hostile states like Iran. The move could also make negotiations for a resolution more difficult.
- What are Hamas's plans in response to the potential closure of its offices in Qatar?
- Hamas leaders have been preparing for a potential relocation for months, with Turkey and Iraq suggested as alternatives. The group recently established a political office in Baghdad. The situation remains tense with ongoing Israeli assaults in Gaza and Lebanon.
- What is Qatar's role in the ongoing conflict, and what is its likely response to the US request?
- Qatar has hosted Hamas's political office for over a decade, acting as a key intermediary in ceasefire talks. Analysts believe Qatar, a major non-NATO ally of the US, is likely to comply with the request, though Hamas officials have denied receiving such an order.
- What is the broader geopolitical context of this situation, particularly regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Lebanon?
- The US request to Qatar comes as the Biden administration makes a final push to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon before the upcoming change in presidential power. Disagreements over the terms of any potential ceasefire have hindered previous negotiations.