Negotiations

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The foreign head of Hamas, Ismail Haniye, apparently wants to relocate his headquarters.(Bild: APA/AFP/Iranian Foreign Ministry)

The political leadership of the radical Islamic organization Hamas is apparently considering moving its base from Qatar to another country. According to a newspaper report, the Islamists have contacted at least two countries in the region in recent days to ask whether they would be open to hosting them.

According to the Wall Street Journal, these countries include Oman. If the political leadership of Hamas were to leave Qatar, this could jeopardize the delicate talks on the release of dozens of Israeli hostages who are still being held captive in Gaza. It could also make it more difficult for Israel and the USA to convey messages to Hamas.

Pressure on Palestinians too great?
In recent weeks, mediators from Qatar and Egypt have exerted pressure on Hamas representatives during the negotiations, the paper wrote. The Hamas leadership, which has been living in the Qatari capital Doha since 2012, has been threatened with expulsion.

This week, the Gulf emirate of Qatar itself also announced that it was reconsidering its role as a mediator between the Israeli government and the Islamist Hamas. Qatar's role had been misused to a certain extent for political purposes, said Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha on Wednesday. He did not specify who and what he was referring to.

Hamas leader meets Erdogan
Could Turkey now assume a more important position? Despite Erdogan's verbal attacks against the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Turkey has recently stepped up its efforts to play a mediating role in the Gaza war. On Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received Hamas foreign leader Ismail Haniye in Istanbul. 

Among other things, the two discussed humanitarian aid for Gaza and a ceasefire, as the state broadcaster TRT reported after the meeting. The meeting, which lasted around two hours, took place in Erdogan's office in the Dolmabahce Palace. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin were also present. 

During the meeting, Turkey advocated diplomatic efforts with the aim of an immediate ceasefire, Erdogan's office added in a message on X (formerly Twitter). The president also called on the Palestinians to unite. The Israeli hostages in Gaza were not mentioned in the statement.