Qatar agreed in recent weeks to kick Hamas out of its country following a request from the US to do so, capping off months of failed attempts to try to get the militant group – whose top leaders reside in the Qatari capital of Doha – to accept a ceasefire and hostage release deal in the Israel-Hamas war,

Qatari officials have agreed to kick Hamas leaders out of their country after they were asked to do so by the Biden administration, according to reports.

Qatar has served as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. But the Gulf monarchy has also come under scrutiny for its ties to the terrorist group, since many senior Hamas leaders reside in Doha. Negotiations have continued off-and-on since last November’s hostage deal, which resulted in the release of 105 hostages.