Qatar denies contacts with Israel over hosting Hamas leaders

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jasem Bin Jaber al-Thani said on Monday that no contacts were made between Qatar and Israel over his country's hosting of four Hamas leaders who were recently expelled from Jordan.

Replying to a question on what has been rumored in this respect, the Qatari minister added, "We have not made any contact with Israel to this end nor asked the permission of any side to receive the four Hamas leaders," adding, "I (ask) everyone who says the opposite of that to prove it."

In an interview with the Qatari al-Jazira satellite station the foreign minister said the "question of hosting the four Hamas leaders by Qatar came at a decision taken by the ruler of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaleifa al-Thani, as there are direct contacts between us and our Jordanian brothers."