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,

Qatar, designated as a major non-NATO ally by Washington, has hosted Hamas' political leaders since 2012 as part of an agreement with the US.

Qatar has suspended its work as a mediator in ceasefire and hostage release talks between Israel and Hamas, officials say. The country said it would resume its work when Hamas and Israel "show their willingness" to negotiate.

Qatar denies reports of suspending Israel-Hamas mediation and closing Hamas' office in Doha, stressing it remains a communication channel and will resume efforts when both sides are serious.

Qatar has asked Hamas’s political leaders to leave the Gulf country, after more than a year of trying to leverage their presence to broker a cease fire with Israel that would halt the war in Gaza and free the hostages held by the group.