From the Liveblog of
Monday, February 26, 2024
Qatari leader meets with Hamas chief Haniyeh to discuss Gaza truce
Gianluca Pacchiani is the Arab affairs reporter for The Times of Israel
The emir of Qatar meets with Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in his Doha palace to discuss efforts to reach a truce in the Gaza Strip.
During the meeting, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani underscores “the State of Qatar’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people” and “its right to establish their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital,” according to a report in the local Gulf Times paper.
Qatar is considered one of the main state sponsors of Hamas, as it hosts some of its top leaders, including Haniyeh himself, and has donated billions of dollars over the years to keep Hamas in power in Gaza.
It has also played a prominent role in negotiations between the terror group and Israel for the release of the 253 hostages taken to Gaza on October 7.
