How tiny Qatar hosts the leaders of Hamas without consequences
Qatar is host to most of the senior political leadership of Hamas — the rest are in Turkey. Western countries have mostly refrained from criticizing this state of affairs, although recent events may change that. Qatar has positioned itself as a mediator and go-between, making itself indispensable.
![How tiny Qatar hosts the leaders of Hamas without consequences](https://i.cbc.ca/1.6999542.1697585713!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/iran-israel-palestinians.jpg)
![In this picture released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, left, meets with Ismail Haniyeh, one of the leaders of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, in Doha, Qatar on Oct. 14, 2023. Two men sit in chairs with flags propped between them.](https://i.cbc.ca/1.6999542.1697585713!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/iran-israel-palestinians.jpg)
Qatar is host to most of the senior political leadership of Hamas — the rest are in Turkey. Western countries have mostly refrained from criticizing this state of affairs, although recent events may change that. Qatar has positioned itself as a mediator and go-between, making itself indispensable.