Following the end of the weeklong Israel-Hamas truce, there were international efforts to revive the Doha-based negotiations, but to no avail. Since then, Israel's military has only expanded ground operations to the south of the Gaza Strip, where tanks have been seen in the center of Khan Younis amid fierce fighting.
After earlier this month Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered Mossad negotiators home from Qatar, there were still hopes that behind-the-scenes efforts at mediating another temporary truce could be salvaged. But these have been dashed on reports that
key Hamas officials involved in the talks have also exited Qatar this week.
"
Several Hamas leaders left Qatar for an unknown destination, turning off their phones and not accepting calls, KAN's Arabic language channel reported citing sources in Doha on Tuesday evening,"
The Jerusalem Post writes.
"Additionally, on Tuesday, KAN news reported that Saleh al-Arouri, a senior member of Hamas, left his usual residence in Beirut for Turkey," the report continues.
Palestinian and other regional sources have also suggested that Hamas officials are fleeing their hideouts abroad, after Israel's government made clear it would
target and hunt down Hamas operatives abroad.
According to
The Messenger, "Top Hamas leaders have reportedly left their luxury safe haven in Doha, the Qatari capital, according to a report from Israel’s KAN state radio’s Arabic Service, and
may be headed to Algiers or Tehran to evade capture or assassination at the hands of Israel."
