Qatar agrees to kick Hamas out of Doha as Israel bombs Beirut

The US has asked Qatar to expel Hamas from their country after a deal snub as Israel carries out a series of airstrikes on Beirut, including a university.

The US has warned Qatar that the presence of Hamas in Doha is no longer acceptable in the weeks since the group rejected the latest proposal to achieve a ceasefire and a hostage deal.

Qatar has hosted Hamas officials in Doha since 2012, amid requests from successive US administrations who felt it was important to have a communication channel with the group.

“After rejecting repeated proposals to release hostages, its leaders should no longer be welcome in the capitals of any American partner,” a Biden official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken with Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani in Doha last month. Picture: AFP

“We made that clear to Qatar following Hamas’s rejection weeks ago of another hostage release proposal.

Three Hamas officials denied Qatar had told Hamas leaders they were no longer welcome in the country.

The latest round of Doha talks in mid-October failed to reach a ceasefire, with Hamas rejecting a short-term proposal.

Meanwhile, at least nine air raids have been reported on Beirut’s southern suburbs after Israeli army threatened residents to leave the area.

A second strike hit the surroundings of the Lebanese University in the al-Hadath area and a new raid also hit the Haret Hreik area.

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Originally published as Qatar agrees to kick Hamas out of Doha as Israel bombs Beirut