In recent years, Qatar has become an essential crossroads to understand the Palestinian affair and, in particular, the evolution of Hamas. The little Emirate of the Gulf has been able to build a leading role in the Middle East, moving on multiple plans: financier of the Islamist organization, mediator in negotiations with Israel and at the same time strategic ally of the United States, who maintain one of the most important bases in the region in Doha.
The turning point is dated 23 October 2012. That day the then Emir Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani made an official visit to the Gaza Strip, the first head of state in the world to do it. A highly symbolic gesture, which marked the definitive deployment of Doha with Hamas at the expense of Abu Mazen’s Olp. The move took place in a delicate moment: Hamas was distanced from the Muslim brothers, his original reference, and was getting closer to Iran. The visit of the Emiro sanctioned a new season of political and financial relations. Hamas found in Doha not only a safe refuge for its leaders, but also a stable source of economic resources capable of keeping the Gaza administration standing.
Doha has made hundreds of millions of dollars available to pay the wages of public officials linked to Hamas and to provide electricity to the strip with a supervised by the Israeli and Egyptian secret services. A surprising choice, but tolerated by Jerusalem to contain instability and avoid a military escalation.
Hamas leaders granted hospitality has given Qatar a double advantage. On the one hand, the Emirate has accredited himself as an indispensable mediator: his capital periodically hosts negotiated on the ceasefire or on the release of Israeli hostages. On the other, Doha thus strengthens its geopolitical projection, maintaining open relationships both with Iran and Turkey – Sponsor of Hamas – and with the United States and, indirectly, with Israel.
For Hamas, residing in Doha meant to have a safe basis far from the Israeli bombing, but at the center of the diplomatic tables that matter. For Qatar, however, it means remaining a key actor in the Middle East, capable of playing multiple games at the same time and presenting himself as an indispensable interlocutor for everyone.
This relationship, however, is not without contradictions. The attack of October 7, 2023 against Israel has questioned the strategy to finance Hamas to keep it under control. However, the link between Doha and the Islamist organization has its roots in over twenty years of history and does not appear to be destined to break easily.
In a Middle East marked by the rivalries between Iran and Israel, by the instability of the Gaza Strip and the competition between regional actors such as Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, Qatar has chosen to carve out an ambiguous but decisive role. And as long as Hamas will continue to represent a central pawn in the Palestinian chessboard, Doha will remain the place where its leaders find refuge, protection and international visibility.