Several media reports and sources have been claiming that the government of Qatar has ordered the leaders of Hamas to leave the country, following pressure from Washington. Financial Times is among those major outlets who are reporting that “The request was made around 10 days ago after intense discussions with US officials, according to one person familiar with the matter.” Wall Street Journal and others have said the same on Saturday. Hamas leadership has been present in the capital of Doha since 2012. Prior to that it had long been based out of Damascus. But the Assad government booted Hamas after it sided against him and allied with the Muslim Brotherhood and al-Qaeda forces during the decade long proxy war in Syria. The tiny oil and gas-rich Gulf nation of Qatar has been central to on-and-off ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, but these talks have of late been declared completely off.  Given that these negotiations have been cut off, and as fighting continues in the Gaza Strip, Washington believes it’s time for Qatar to no longer play ‘neutral’ host nation to the group widely designated as a terror organization by the US and its allies. FT details: But the talks have since been deadlocked, and Doha was […]