Top Hamas commander expelled by Qatar in Malaysia?

Report says Hamas’ military commander in West Bank, Saleh al-Arouri, is believed to be in Malaysia following fallout between Qatar and five other Arab states.

KUALA LUMPUR: A top Hamas commander, Saleh al-Arouri, is believed to be in Malaysia, after being expelled from Qatar, The Edge reported today.

Quoting reports coming out of Israel, it said the expulsion followed Qatar’s fallout with Saudi Arabia and four other Arab states over allegations that Qatar was aiding extremists.

The Edge reported that it was unclear if other Hamas officials were also seeking refuge in Malaysia, adding that Hamas officials were now reportedly trying to seek refuge in Malaysia, Turkey and Lebanon.

The report said al-Arouri, Hamas’ military commander in the West Bank, and others, had been told to leave Qatar after Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, and Egypt, in an unprecedented move on Monday, cut off most diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar. Yemen later joined the boycott.

This, they said, was because of Qatar’s alleged ties with Iran and Islamist groups in the region.

However, The Edge report said, Hamas had denied reports that its officials had been expelled from Qatar. -FMT