The Biden administration claims it is still seeking a hostage/ceasefire deal in Gaza, but it has shut down the only channel of communication to Hamas by which a deal could be negotiated. The Times of Israel reports this morning that, at the request of the U.S., Qatar told Hamas over a week ago that it must close its office in Doha.
A U.S. official told the Times of Israel that Hamas’s execution of American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin along with five other captives in late August and subsequent rejection of more ceasefire proposals are what led the administration to change its approach regarding the group’s continued presence in Doha, deeming it “no longer viable or acceptable.” The U.S. decision also coincided with its unsealing of indictments against Hamas officials, including one of its top leaders Khaled Meshaal, who is known to reside in Doha, the U.S. official said.
