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,

The U.S. asked the Qataris about two weeks ago to push Hamas leaders out of Doha after Hamas's latest rejections to ceasefire proposals.

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.