Israel has since Nov. 2023 been publicly floating various options to deal with Hamas leaders in Gaza, including the possibility of a ceasefire in exchange for their expulsion and the freeing of Israeli prisoners. Referring to figures such as Yahya Sinwar, the military commander of Hamas, and Mohammed Deif, head of the Izzuddin Al-Qassam Brigades, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month reiterated that their expulsion is on the table.

Against this backdrop, some reports in late January claimed that the “Israeli government has discussed internally a plan to allow some of Hamas’ senior military leaders to take refuge in a third Middle East country—potentially Algeria, Qatar or Saudi Arabia.” This is while Qatar has been under immense pressure from...