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Hamas denies Qatar is pushing it to leave

Hamas officials have strenuously denied news reports that Qatar might extend its decision to expel Muslim Brotherhood leaders to include Hamas leaders residing in Doha.
Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal talks during a news conference in Doha July 23, 2014. Meshaal said he was ready to accept a humanitarian truce in Gaza where the Islamist group is fighting an Israeli military offensive, but would not agree to a full ceasefire until the terms had been negotiated. REUTERS/Stringer (QATAR - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT) - RTR3ZVSR

Qatar shocked many political circles on Sept. 12 when it asked several Muslim Brotherhood leaders to leave Doha in an effort to meet conditions for restoring ties with its Gulf neighbors.

On Sept. 14, leaks emerged that Qatar might also apply the decision to leaders of Hamas — who have been residing in Doha since leaving Syria in mid-2012 — in response to international pressure.

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