Hamas leader Haniyeh decides to settle in Qatar - report
Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya confirmed last week that Haniyeh will remain outside the Gaza Strip for at least six months.
By KHALED ABU TOAMEHHamas chief Ismail Haniyeh next to his destroyed office (REUTERS/Handout)(photo credit: HANDOUT/REUTERS)
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has decided to remain outside the Gaza Strip for a lengthy period of time, Hamas officials told the London-based Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat.Haniyeh, who left the Gaza Strip in December 2019, could remain away until the end of this year, the officials said. “The decision is related to internal arrangements in Hamas and complications connected to travel to and from the Gaza Strip,” an official was quoted as saying.The officials denied that Egypt has banned Haniyeh from returning to the Gaza Strip and said the Hamas leader has decided not to return home at this stage.Haniyeh has decided to settle in Qatar at this phase, and it is not known whether his family will join him, the officials said.The report about Haniyeh’s purported decision not to return to the Gaza Strip is believed to be linked to Egypt’s dissatisfaction over his recent visit to Iran.Haniyeh visited Iran to attend the funeral of Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, who was assassinated by the US in Iraq last month. Unconfirmed reports said Egypt has decided to punish Haniyeh by preventing him from returning to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing.Hamas officials initially confirmed that the Egyptians were upset with Haniyeh for visiting Iran. However, the officials later said the crisis between Hamas and Egypt had been resolved.Haniyeh, who left the Gaza Strip on December 2, 2019, has visited Egypt, Turkey, Oman, Qatar and Malaysia, in addition to Iran. He is also expected to visit Lebanon, Mauritania, Russia and Kuwait.Last weekend, Haniyeh met again in Istanbul with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It was the second meeting between the two since Haniyeh left the Gaza Strip.Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya confirmed last week that Haniyeh will remain outside the Gaza Strip for at least six months.Haniyeh’s tour aims to “end several internal issues and strengthen Hamas’s relations with some countries,” he said.Haniyeh will continue to manage the affairs of Hamas during his stay abroad and will visit any country that wishes to receive him, Hayya said.Although the Egyptians were unhappy with Haniyeh’s visit to Iran, relations between the two sides have not been affected, he said.
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