AP reports: Hamas Chief Khaled Mashal Ousted From Qatar Hideout

 

Conflicting reports when Gaza-based terror group was swift in issuing a denial of the Associated Press report, but Israel lauds reported Qatari decision.

By i24news

 

Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashal was expelled from his hideaway in Qatar, the Associated Press news agency reported on Tuesday. However the Gaza-based terror group was swift in issuing a denial of the claims.

Hamas leader Khaled Mashal in his “hideout” in Doha, Qatar during Gaza conflict – AP

“There is no truth to what some media outlets have published over the departure by brother Khaled Mashal from Doha,” Hamas official Ezzat al-Rishq was quoted by Reuters as saying.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying it lauds Qatar’s reported decision.

Reports that the Gulf kingdom threatened to expel Mashal emerged in August, during the war between Israel and Gaza-based militants led by Hamas. According to the Arabic daily Al-Hayat, Mashal faced expulsion had he agreed to the terms of a permanent ceasefire proposal suggested by Egypt.

According to the report Doha warned it would deport Mashal if he approved the agreement in its current form, without insisting it covers all of Hamas’s demands.

The newspaper said Qatar demands that Egypt give it a role in ending the Gaza crisis. Egypt, however, reportedly rejected the demand, conditioning its agreement to it on Qatar formally apologizing for its policy toward Egypt since the ouster of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi’s in June 2013.

The 50 day-long war ended with a ceasefire in September.

 

View original i24news publication at: http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/middle-east/56890-150106-conflicting-reports-hamas-chief-khaled-mashal-expelled-from-qatar