Egyptian parliament member Samir Ghattas, who is close to the Egyptian intelligence and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and very critical of Hamas, said Dec. 9 that Egypt has allowed Hamas politburo head Ismail Haniyeh to tour Russia, Malaysia, Qatar and Turkey, but not Iran. This is Haniyeh’s first tour since he was elected president of the movement in May 2017.

He described Haniyeh’s visit to Malaysia as being of paramount importance since some Hamas leaders are likely to be relocated from Qatar to Kuala Lumpur. 

Talal Sharif, a Palestinian writer with the website Amad and a supporter of dismissed Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan, who is close to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, said Dec. 11 any reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Qatar might require Doha to stop supporting Hamas.

Since the beginning of December, there have been indications of reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Qatar following the rupture in relations in June 2017. Among the conditions for such reconciliation, Qatar is likely to be requested to stop sheltering Muslim Brotherhood leaders as well as Hamas, since the movement is seen as affiliated with the Islamic group.