Houthis Offer to Host Hamas Leaders
Calls for the Houthis to take initiative towards Yemenis suffering from hunger and poverty due to their policies and economic collapse
After information spread in the past hours about Qatar reviewing its role in mediating between Hamas and Israel, with the possibility of closing the political office of the movement in Doha, the Houthis entered the scene.
Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a leader in the political office of the Yemeni group, offered to host Hamas leaders in Sanaa.
In a tweet on his account on the X platform yesterday, Saturday, he wrote, “Sanaa is honored to host the political office of Hamas no matter the consequences.” He added, “Even if the sky falls to the ground.”
The invitation sparked wide controversy on social media, with criticism of the Houthis who commit various violations against their Yemeni compatriots and then flaunt their muscles in defense of the Palestinian cause.
Activists called on the Houthis to take initiative towards Yemenis suffering from hunger and poverty due to the impact of their policies and the economic collapse.
Other activists commented that Hamas would not accept staying in Sanaa after getting used to Qatar’s luxurious hotels.
This comes after an official mentioned that Qatar may close the political office of Hamas in Doha as part of a broader review of the state’s mediation role in the war between Israel and Hamas.
The official told Reuters that Qatar is considering whether to allow Hamas to continue operating its political office, and the broader review includes considering whether Qatar will continue mediating in the ongoing conflict for about seven months.
Qatar announced last month that it was reassessing its mediation role in the indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, citing concerns about undermining its efforts by politicians seeking to gain.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that if Qatar does not play a mediation role, there would be no benefit in keeping Hamas‘s political office, so this is part of the reassessment.
He added that he did not know if Qatar would ask Hamas to leave Doha if the Qatari government decides to close the movement’s office. However, he said that Qatar’s review of its role will be affected by how Israel and Hamas behave during the ongoing negotiations.
In a report on Friday, The Washington Post quoted an unnamed US official as saying that Washington had asked Doha to expel Hamas if the movement continues to reject a ceasefire agreement with Israel.
A Hamas official told Reuters that the movement’s negotiators arrived in Cairo on Saturday for intensive talks on a possible ceasefire in Gaza that would see some hostages returned to Israel.
Qatar has hosted Hamas‘s political office since 2012 as part of an agreement with the United States.
Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas‘s political office, lives in Doha and has frequently traveled, including to Turkey, since Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7.
Qatar, considered a key US ally outside NATO, has faced criticism from within the United States and Israel over its relationship with Hamas since October 7.
Israeli statistics say that Hamas‘s attack resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people and the holding of 253 hostages, with 133 still believed to be held in Gaza. Gaza health authorities, run by Hamas, say that the subsequent Israeli attack resulted in the deaths of more than 34,000 Palestinians.
Some US lawmakers have called on President Joe Biden’s administration to reassess its relationship with Qatar if it does not pressure Hamas to reach a hostage release agreement. Others urged Qatar to cut ties with Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also called on Qatar to pressure Hamas. There are no official relations between Qatar and Israel, but their officials meet to discuss mediation efforts.
