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Hamas denies reports that its supreme leader, Khaled Mashaal, was expelled from Qatar

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2009 file photo, Khaled Meshaal, head of Hamas Politburo in Damascus, talks during a presser following his talks with Egyptian officials in Cairo, Egypt. The Hamas militant group is denying claims Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015 that its exiled leader, Khaled Mashaal, has been expelled from his base in Qatar. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File) (The Associated Press)

RAMALLAH, West Bank – The Hamas militant group is denying claims that its exiled leader, Khaled Mashaal, has been expelled from his base in Qatar.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Tuesday praising Qatar for kicking out Mashaal. It said the decision came after heavy lobbying by Israel, which considers Hamas to be a terrorist group.

Izzat Rishq, a top aide to Mashaal, said the claim, initially reported by CNN citing an unnamed Hamas news agency, was wrong.

Rishq said: "There is no basis of truth about brother Khaled Mashaal leaving Doha. We are in Doha now."

Hamas spokesman Hossam Badran in Qatar also told the AP the report was false.

There was no immediate comment from Qatar, a wealthy Gulf state that has allowed Mashaal to set up a base there.