Khaled Mashaal
Khaled MashaalIsrael news photo: Flash 90

In direct contradiction to a statement earlier this month, Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal is quietly moving his headquarters to Qatar.

According to the LIGNET intelligence website, Mashaal announced Friday he will “temporarily” be carrying out Hamas activities from Qatar. However, “Hamas is keeping its Damascus offices open.”

Mashaal made the announcement after the terrorist organization closed a Palestinian Authority unity government deal with the rival Fatah faction.

"Mashaal likely wants to take advantage of Qatar's growing influence in the region and its reputation as a reliable negotiator and a friend of the Palestinian cause,” commented the Langley Intelligence Group in a statement posted Friday on the LIGNET website.

While Mashaal is setting up shop in Qatar, however, his rival in upcoming Hamas elections arrived Friday on an official visit to Tehran.

Gaza's de facto Hamas Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh, delivered a fiery address to some 30,000 supporters on Saturday to commemorate the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, vowing Hamas “will never recognize Israel.”