US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said on Thursday that the US is ending Gaza ceasefire talks and returning its Qatari negotiating team for consultations after Hamas' latest response “demonstrates a lack of desire to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.”
“While the mediators have made great efforts, Hamas does not appear to be coordinating or acting in good faith,” Mr. Witkoff said.
“We will now look at alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.”
He said it was “a shame that Hamas is acting in such a selfish manner” and that the US was “resolute” in its efforts to end the conflict in Gaza.
It is unclear what “alternative options” the U.S. is considering. The White House has not yet commented on the situation, and the State Department has not yet responded to the reports.
The Trump administration has failed for months to achieve a breakthrough in talks on a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas as the situation in Gaza worsens.
The two sides have held weeks of talks in Qatar, reporting small signs of progress but no major breakthroughs. Officials said the main sticking point was the redeployment of Israeli troops after any ceasefire.
Earlier on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office recalled his country's negotiating team back to Israel over Hamas's reaction.
In a brief statement, the prime minister's office expressed gratitude to Mr. Wittkoff and the mediators, Qatar and Egypt, for their efforts, but provided no further details.
The deal under discussion is expected to include a 60-day ceasefire in which Hamas will gradually release 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others in exchange for Palestinians held by Israel.
Humanitarian aid will be increased and both sides will negotiate a lasting ceasefire.
The talks have stalled over conflicting demands to end the war. Hamas says it will release all hostages only in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal and an end to the war. Israel says it will not agree to end the war until Hamas relinquishes power and disarms, which the militants reject.
Earlier this week, the State Department said Mr. Witkoff would travel to the Middle East for talks, but U.S. officials later said Mr. Witkoff would instead travel to Europe.
It is unclear whether he held meetings there on Thursday.
Earlier this month, Mr Trump met with Mr Netanyahu at the White House in an all-out effort to achieve a breakthrough and a ceasefire agreement.
But despite strengthening his partnership with Mr Netanyahu after their countries' joint strikes on Iran, the Israeli leader left Washington without making any of the breakthroughs he had claimed.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
