Hamas political leaders reportedly are scouting for new political headquarters outside of Qatar as pressure mounts on the Gulf state to sway the terror group to agree to a hostage-release deal.
The terror group has contacted leaders of two Middle Eastern nations, one of which is Oman, Arab officials told The Wall Street Journal.
Fears are mounting a Hamas exit from Qatar, which has served as central mediator in the ceasefire negotiations to free dozens of hostages captured on Oct. 7, would lead talks that already teetering on a knife’s edge to collapse.
“The talks have already stalled again with barely any signs or prospects for them to resume any time soon, and distrust is rising between Hamas and the negotiators,” one Arab mediator told The Journal.
“The possibility of the talks being upended entirely is very real,” another Arab mediator said.
Hamas’ search for new political headquarters comes as the terror group has faced pressure from Qatari and Egyptian meditators to relax its conditions for the hostages’ release, including threats of expulsion if a deal doesn’t come to pass.
Qatar’s capital, Doha, has hosted Hamas’ leaders since 2012, as part of an arrangement backed by the United States.
For months, however, a number of US lawmakers and Israeli politicians have bashed Qatar and called on the Biden administration to cut ties with Hamas and punish Doha for what they claim is tantamount to supporting terrorism.
Qatari and US officials have denied the terrorism charges.
On Wednesday, Qatar’s Prime Minister, Muhammad al-Thani, announced that his country is “re-examining its position as a mediator between Israel and Gaza” amid “abuse” toward the Gulf state over its efforts to secure a truce in Israel’s war with Hamas.