Qatari-Iranian-Turkish Arrangements to Keep Hamas in Gaza’s Governance Equation

31st January 2025

2 minutes read

Qatari-Iranian-Turkish Arrangements to Keep Hamas in Gaza’s Governance Equation

The meeting of a Hamas delegation with Erdoğan in Ankara and Araghtchi in Doha cannot be separated from the ongoing debate regarding Gaza’s future and Washington’s attempts to prevent Hamas from reclaiming control of the enclave.

The external meetings held by Hamas delegations are an effort to counter the pressure exerted by President Donald Trump’s administration to sideline the Palestinian movement from ruling Gaza and seek alternatives. These efforts follow calls by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a conversation with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdel-Aty, emphasizing the need to hold Hamas accountable and prevent its governance in the future. It is also possible that Hamas will propose a political initiative regarding Gaza’s future.

The meeting between a Hamas delegation and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on Wednesday, along with the upcoming talks between Iran’s foreign minister and senior Hamas leaders in Doha, are directly linked to the ongoing debate over who will govern Gaza.

Some experts point to Qatari-Iranian arrangements aimed at keeping Hamas in the governance framework in Gaza, as well as a potential plan to relocate Hamas leaders from Doha due to mounting pressure to distance the movement’s representatives.

Despite its resilience against Israel’s military machine, Hamas is unlikely to govern Gaza alone in the future, given the unprecedented destruction of the enclave. While Israel has failed to dismantle Hamas entirely, the group has emerged weakened, despite its displays of strength during the release of hostages.

Hamas views Turkey as a reliable ally in reconstruction efforts. During their meeting, Khaled Meshaal, Khalil al-Hayya, Zaher Jabarin, Mohammed Nasser, and Moussa Akari discussed the latest developments in the Palestinian cause, the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, and the prisoner exchange deal with Israel, mediated by Qatar and Egypt.

The discussions also focused on the urgent need for housing, humanitarian aid, and reconstruction—key concerns for Hamas amid the systematic destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure.

The rest of the article follows the same line of analysis, focusing on regional alliances, reconstruction, and the future governance of Gaza in light of ongoing political maneuvers.