Blinken's Warning to Qatar over Hamas Expulsion Threat Amid Gaza Ceasefire Stalemate, Reports Confirm
In a recent development, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a strong warning to Qatar, urging them to pressure Hamas into fulfilling a crucial hostage and ceasefire agreement to end the conflict in Gaza. According to two US officials, Qatar faces the possibility of expelling senior Hamas members from Doha if the demands are not met, as negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza remain at a standstill.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently gave a strong message to Qatar: Tell Hamas to honor a hostage and ceasefire agreement to stop the war in Gaza, or face the possibility of being expelled from Doha, where senior Hamas members are located, as per two US officials who spoke to CNN.
The US pressure on Qatar came as negotiations between Hamas and Israel hit a standstill. However, Hamas recently returned to the negotiating table in Doha with a new set of demands. These talks, facilitated by Qatar and Egypt, mark the first high-level discussions in Doha in weeks and are scheduled to continue on Friday.
During a meeting in Washington on March 5, US Secretary of State Blinken conveyed a message to Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, according to sources familiar with the matter. Qatar, a crucial partner to the US in ceasefire efforts, reportedly understood and accepted the message without significant resistance.
Qatari officials refrained from commenting on the details of the meeting, but emphasized their ongoing efforts to exert pressure on Hamas. Whether Qatar relayed the warning to Hamas leaders remains uncertain.
Hamas set up a political office in Doha back in 2012, where key members of the group are now permanently located. This has positioned Qatar as a key player in the interactions between Hamas and other countries in the region.
Although Blinken's recent message was firm, the Biden administration has been engaging in ongoing discussions with Qatar about its ties with Hamas ever since the group launched a violent attack on Israel on October 7th.
A week after the October 7 attack, Blinken met with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in Doha. He publicly stated that there should be no more business as usual with Hamas.
During the meeting, the Emir indicated that Qatar would be open to expelling Hamas leaders from Doha if requested by the US. Additionally, he mentioned that Hamas was willing to release some hostages. Blinken agreed that pursuing this opportunity to free the hostages was a positive step. This marked the beginning of the negotiation process.
Months of negotiations have led to a temporary halt in fighting and a small hostage release in November. The recent message from Blinken was a result of US officials feeling frustrated with the slow progress in the talks.
Dennis Ross, a former US envoy to the Middle East, expressed that he would have preferred to see action taken earlier. He mentioned that based on their behavior, it seems like they were not feeling pressure from the US. Ross speculated that initially, the administration may have believed that not pressuring Hamas would yield better results, but over time, they grew more frustrated.
Some US officials acknowledged that the extent of influence Hamas's political wing in Doha has over the militant faction in Gaza remains unclear. Despite this, they highlighted progress this week as the parties resumed meetings in Doha.
Blinken expressed optimism this week, mentioning on Wednesday that the negotiations are edging closer to a deal. He believes that the differences are becoming smaller and that reaching an agreement is highly likely.
Editor's P/S:
The article highlights the growing pressure from the US on Qatar to influence Hamas towards a ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages. The message delivered by Secretary Blinken reflects the frustration of US officials over the slow progress in negotiations. The US has been urging Qatar to expel Hamas leaders from Doha, where they have established a political office since 2012. The negotiations, facilitated by Qatar and Egypt, have reached a standstill, with Hamas recently returning to the table with new demands.
Despite the uncertainty about Hamas's political wing's influence over the militant faction in Gaza, the US administration remains optimistic about reaching a deal. The ongoing discussions and negotiations are seen as a positive step, and Blinken has expressed confidence that an agreement is within reach. However, the article raises questions about the effectiveness of US pressure on Qatar and the level of influence Hamas leaders in Doha have over the group's actions in Gaza.
