Hamas sent message to U.S. via Qatar proposing truce

By Arnon Regular, Haaretz Correspondent



Using mediators from Qatar, Hamas delivered a message a few weeks ago to American officials, offering to halt suicide attacks within Israel in exchange for an Israeli promise to curtail assassination strikes against its leaders in the Gaza Strip.




More than two months ago, senior members of Hamas' political branch held a meeting in Doha, Qatar, say Palestinian and other sources. The meeting was held not long after an attempted strike (on September 10) against Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. (The attempt was a response to the Hamas terror attack on Jerusalem's Cafe Hillel.) Participants in the meeting decided to deliver their message via Qatar Foreign Minister Hamad Bin Jassim, who is known to be well-connected in Israel and the U.S.

Qatar has some influence on Hamas' decision-making process, largely because a significant portion of the Islamic organization's funds come from Qatari sources.

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