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Israeli official: Abbas asked Qatar to expel Hamas leaders

June 9, 2017 at 11:16 am

Former Israeli National Security Advisor, Yaakov Amidror, 9 June 2017 [BICOM‏/Twitter]

Former Israeli National Security Advisor, Yaakov Amidror, revealed that Qatar has asked some Hamas leaders to leave the country at the request of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas who is being supported by Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

According to Israel’s i24NEWS, Amidror said: “The expulsion of Hamas leaders, including Khaled Meshaal from the State of Qatar, was made at Abbas’ request.”

It is in Abbas’ interest to weaken Hamas, which is receiving funding and support from Qatar.

Responding to a question by the Israeli site regarding a number of Gulf countries severing ties with Qatar and expelling five senior Hamas officials to Malaysia, as claimed by the site, the Israeli official said, “it seems that Qatar has started responding to the Gulf countries’ demands”.

Amidror also noted that “Abbas is receiving support from Egypt and Saudi Arabia, both of which undoubtedly asked Qatar to expel Hamas leaders from Doha.” He stressed that Israel did not make such a demand, despite that it would be in its interests as well, as it “might serve as a push for a renewal of the peace process.”

Read: Israel will exploit Arab rift to kill our people says Hamas

He also mentioned the law recently passed by the Turkish parliament, which would allow for sending military forces to defend Qatar, but he stressed that despite this, he does not believe the law would actually be activated to send a large number of military troops to Doha, especially given the presence of the largest US military base in the Middle East.

“Even if Turkey sent a few hundred troops to Qatar, it would not have much effect,” he said, ruling out the possibility of direct Turkish military intervention in Qatar or a direct military confrontation with Saudi Arabia.

#QatarGate

Hamas has denied the news of Qatar giving it a list of some of its leaders’ names to be expelled from Qatar, noting that the departure of senior leader and released prisoner, Saleh Al-Arouri, from Qatar to Malaysia was based on arrangements made by the Hamas leaders abroad.