Deciphering Mahmoud Abbas’s Surprise Visit to Qatar: Potential Meeting with Haniyeh in Doha?
Watan-The Qatari news agency “QNA” revealed the arrival of Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, today, Sunday, February 11th, to the Qatari capital, Doha, on a working visit to the country, raising questions about the purpose of his step.
According to “QNA,” Abbas and the accompanying delegation were received upon their arrival at Hamad International Airport by Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Khulaifi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and Munir Abdullah Ghannam, the Palestinian Ambassador to Qatar.
Qatari sources did not disclose the nature or details of the visit or clarify its reasons precisely, merely stating that it is a “working visit.” The Palestinian Authority did not reveal the purpose of Abbas’s sudden visit to Doha either.
The news site “aljasranews” mentioned that Mahmoud Abbas’s visit comes “amid diplomatic efforts led by our state to stop the aggression against our brethren in Gaza.”
Meanwhile, Hebrew Channel 12 described the visit as surprising, suggesting that the meeting might be to hold discussions with the head of Hamas’s political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh.
بعد 128 يوم من حرب الابادة بغزة.
أين محمود عباس ؟ pic.twitter.com/EO9GTRvakS
— Hanzala (@Hanzpal2) February 11, 2024
Saudi Source Comments on Mahmoud Abbas’s Visit to Qatar
The Saudi-affiliated channel ‘Al-Sharq’ claimed that informed sources clarified the purpose of the visit, stating that the main headline of it is summed up in preparing for the day after the war on Gaza. Preparation for forming a new government, prioritizing the security of the sector and its reconstruction.
According to the channel, the new government that Mahmoud Abbas will discuss its form and composition in Doha will be a government of experts (technocrats), not a political government, and that Dr. Mohammed Mustafa, the head of the Palestinian Investment Fund, is the candidate of the Palestinian president to lead it.
الرئيس الفلسطيني يصل إلى الدوحة في زيارة عمل للبلاد#قنا #قطر #فلسطينhttps://t.co/lS8YptxQla pic.twitter.com/exRO5s3cgR
— وكالة الأنباء القطرية (@QatarNewsAgency) February 11, 2024
The sources said that a team of experts has prepared a plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip, upon the president’s request, and that the main features of this plan include the establishment of a reconstruction authority operating under the supervision of the World Bank and subject to international auditing.
Qatar as a mediator between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority
The site of the “al-Sharq” channel, close to the Saudi authorities, added that President Mahmoud Abbas will propose the idea of the government to Hamas, through the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in the meeting to be held with him next Monday in Doha.
According to the same source, President Abbas’s visit to the Qatari capital Doha came at the invitation of Emir Tamim, to discuss opportunities for Hamas to join the Palestine Liberation Organization and to extend the influence of the Palestinian Authority to the Gaza Strip after the end of the war.
It is worth mentioning that the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested to the Palestinian president, during his recent visit, to prepare for the day after the war and not to wait until the war ends. He proposed establishing a broader government representing the Palestinian people and developing a plan for reform and reconstruction.
🇶🇦🇵🇸| سعادة @Dr_Al_Khulaifi وزير الدولة بوزارة الخارجية يستقبل السيد محمود عباس رئيس دولة #فلسطين الشقيقة لدى وصوله الدوحة
وتأتي زيارته في ظل الجهود الدبلوماسية التي تقودها دولتنا لوقف العدوان على الأشقاء في غزة
| @MofaQatar_AR
| #الجسرة_الإخبارية – #قطر pic.twitter.com/xaLm84pSiy— الجسرة الإخبارية (@aljasranews) February 11, 2024
Qatari and Egyptian mediators had presented Hamas with the first proposal for a long ceasefire in the Gaza Strip a few days ago, which was agreed upon with Israel and America in talks held in Paris last week.
The movement responded with a proposal for a ceasefire plan in the Gaza Strip, consisting of three stages, each lasting 45 days, according to a draft document of the movement’s response to the mediators regarding the “framework agreement” for the proposed exchange of prisoners and ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli broadcasting authority reported at the time that Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant informed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Hamas’s response regarding the prisoner exchange agreement and ceasefire had been formulated to be rejected by Israel.
