Many questions have recently been raised about Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal's conspicuous absence of more than two months. He did not visit an Arab capital or appear on television, including on Al Jazeera, which is only a few meters from his headquarters and residence. He finally broke his silence on Sept. 23 with a surprise appearance on Al Jazeera.

Meshaal’s disappearance led to speculation in the realm of politics as well as in the media. The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, which is close to Hezbollah, reported that Meshaal was experiencing trying circumstances in Doha, the Qatari capital. This situation, according to the paper, drove him to seriously contemplate leaving the city in favor of the Sudanese capital of Khartoum or perhaps Beirut or Tehran. Izzat al-Rishq, spokesman for Hamas’ external bureau, flatly denied such reports. According to him, Meshaal’s residence in Qatar has not changed nor has that of the rest of the Hamas leadership. He described the reports on the matter as propaganda designed to harm Hamas.

In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Rishq stressed that Hamas’ leadership has not even raised leaving Qatar as a topic for discussion, claiming that the group sees no need for such an action. In his view, many Arab states are open to hosting Hamas, despite what some view as a tightening siege against the group.

Mousa Abu Marzouk, the deputy chairman of Hamas’ Political Bureau who resides in Egypt, also categorically denied reports that Meshaal and the Hamas leaders and cadres with him in Qatar were somehow being pressured. He asserted that such reports are without foundation or, as he put it, “simply lies.” In addition, according to a message Marzouk posted on his Facebook page, Meshaal has not been subjected to any restrictions. The few news reports to have discussed the question of Hamas leaders leaving Qatar have also claimed that Meshaal remains in the country under house arrest, with Qatari authorities preventing him from moving about “for security reasons.” According to these reports, Meshaal’s living situation all but resembles a “tight blockade” on his movements.