() The U.S. is withdrawing negotiators from efforts to reach a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
“We have decided to bring our team home from Doha for consultations after the latest response from Hamas, which clearly shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza. While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith,” Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said on X. “We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza. It is a shame that Hamas has acted in this selfish way. We are resolute in seeking an end to this conflict and a permanent peace in Gaza.”
The U.S. has been engaged in efforts to mediate a permanent ceasefire that would end the conflict in the Gaza Strip, with Qatar acting as an intermediary.
Earlier ceasefire agreements have been short-lived, though they have resulted in the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and the release of Palestinians who had been arrested and held in Israel.
Both sides have blamed the other for the lack of a permanent ceasefire, accusing each other of breaking previous agreements and presenting unreasonable terms for a deal.
As the conflict that began in October of 2023 has dragged on, humanitarian groups have warned that the Gaza Strip is on the brink of mass starvation, as Israel has opened and closed aid routes throughout the fighting, limiting the supplies that reach the civilian population.
On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump pledged to bring an end to the fighting, along promise to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. Such deals have proved elusive so far.
The president also expressed a vision for Gaza that included the resettlement of Palestinians to undetermined areas so that Gaza could be rebuilt as a resort area, potentially with the U.S. taking over the territory.
In his statement, Witkoff said the administration would consider “alternative options” to bring home hostages still held in Gaza.
It is not immediately clear what those options would entail or whether the U.S. military could play a more active role in the conflict as it did when Trump launched strikes on Iran following a military campaign begun by Israel.
