PNN – An American media quoted Biden government officials as saying that the United States sent a message to Hamas through Qatar, threatening to expel the group from Doha if it does not adhere to the agreement on the release of Israeli prisoners and a temporary ceasefire in Gaza.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, CNN reported on Thursday local time, quoting American officials: U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken delivered a strong message to Qatar earlier this month that Hamas must adhere to a hostage-free and cease-fire agreement that ends the war in Gaza or face expulsion from the capital, Doha. Qatar, where the members of this terrorist group are based, will be faced.”
According to CNN, the US push came as talks between Hamas and Israel stalled before Hamas returned to the negotiating table with a new set of demands discussed in Doha this week.
The indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, brokered by Qatar and Egypt, were the first at that level in weeks in Doha and are set to resume on Friday.
According to knowledgeable sources, this message was presented by Blinken to Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar in a meeting in Washington on March 5.
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US officials said Qatar, which has been a vital US partner in trying to reach a ceasefire agreement, understood and received the message.
According to CNN, Qatari officials did not comment on the meeting but said they are putting a lot of pressure on Hamas. It is not known whether Qatar has given this warning to Hamas leaders or not.
In 2012, Hamas established a political office in Doha, where senior members of the group are permanently based. As a result, Qatar plays an important role in the region between Hamas and other countries.
Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser of the US government, claimed on Monday local time: “Israel has made significant progress against Hamas. They defeated a significant number of Hamas battalions, killed thousands of Hamas fighters, including senior commanders.”
The spokesperson of the US delegation in the United Nations added: The United States will submit a draft resolution to the Security Council for a vote on Friday calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as part of the hostage exchange deal.
Nate Evans, the spokesperson of the US mission in the United Nations, stated that this proposed resolution will be put to a vote at the UN Security Council meeting on Friday morning local time.