Haniyeh’s Family Prepares to Follow Him to Qatar

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh meets with Qatari envoy Mohammed Al-Emadi in Gaza City January 24, 2019. (Reuters)
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh meets with Qatari envoy Mohammed Al-Emadi in Gaza City January 24, 2019. (Reuters)
TT

Haniyeh’s Family Prepares to Follow Him to Qatar

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh meets with Qatari envoy Mohammed Al-Emadi in Gaza City January 24, 2019. (Reuters)
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh meets with Qatari envoy Mohammed Al-Emadi in Gaza City January 24, 2019. (Reuters)

Arrangements are being made to transfer Amal Haniyeh, wife of the head of the Hamas politburo, Ismail Haniyeh, and some of his children and grandchildren, and even the families of his private guards, from the Gaza Strip to settle down in Qatar, revealed Palestinian sources.

The sources added that they would be transferred to Doha once the Rafah border crossing with Egypt reopens, following a long closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The well-informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Haniyeh family had arranged for the long move to Qatar, where the Hamas leader has settled since the beginning of the year.

Haniyeh’s wife was supposed to join him early last March with two of her children, her son Mohammed and her youngest daughter, but travel restrictions related to COVID-19 delayed their plans.

Haniyeh, who arrived in Qatar in January, decided to stay in Doha for a while. Hamas said at the beginning that he might extend his stay until the end of the year, but as his family is joining him, reports talked about a long-term settlement there.

Haniyeh left the Gaza Strip on December 2 last year, to Cairo, and from there to Turkey, Qatar, Oman, Iran and Malaysia. It was the first time that he had left the coastal enclave, except for short visits to Cairo, since he assumed the leadership of Hamas in May 2017.

Hamas said Haniyeh would remain abroad and would continue to run the movement from Qatar.



UK PM Tells Netanyahu Peace Process ‘Should Lead’ to Palestinian State

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer holds a press conference on the Southport attacks in the Downing Street Briefing Room in London, Britain, 21 January 2025. (EPA)
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer holds a press conference on the Southport attacks in the Downing Street Briefing Room in London, Britain, 21 January 2025. (EPA)
TT

UK PM Tells Netanyahu Peace Process ‘Should Lead’ to Palestinian State

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer holds a press conference on the Southport attacks in the Downing Street Briefing Room in London, Britain, 21 January 2025. (EPA)
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer holds a press conference on the Southport attacks in the Downing Street Briefing Room in London, Britain, 21 January 2025. (EPA)

UK premier Keir Starmer told Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday that any peace process in the Middle East should pave the way for a Palestinian state, Downing Street said.

The two leaders held a call that focused on the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, a UK government spokesperson said.

During the conversation, "both agreed that we must work towards a permanent and peaceful solution that guarantees Israel's security and stability", the British readout of the call added.

"The prime minister added that the UK stands ready to do everything it can to support a political process, which should also lead to a viable and sovereign Palestinian state."

Starmer also "reiterated that it was vital to ensure humanitarian aid can now flow uninterrupted into Gaza, to support the Palestinians who desperately need it", the statement added.

Starmer "offered his personal thanks for the work done by the Israeli government to secure the release of the hostages, including British hostage Emily Damari", the statement added.

"To see the pictures of Emily finally back in her family's arms was a wonderful moment but a reminder of the human cost of the conflict," Starmer added, according to the statement.

A truce agreement between Israel and Hamas to end 15 months of war in Gaza came into effect on Sunday.

The first part of the three-phase deal should last six weeks and see 33 hostages returned from Gaza in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.