WASHINGTON – On Thursday, President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, announced that the U.S. is terminating Gaza ceasefire discussions and recalling its negotiation team from Qatar for consultations. This decision follows a recent response from Hamas, which Witkoff claims exhibits a lack of interest in achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.
“Although mediators have exerted significant effort, it seems that Hamas is neither coordinated nor negotiating in genuine faith,” Witkoff declared in a statement. “We will now explore alternative strategies to secure the release of hostages and aim to establish a more stable environment for Gaza residents.”
The specific “alternative options” under U.S. consideration remain unspecified. The White House has not yet commented, and the State Department has not immediately addressed inquiries.
A breakthrough in talks on a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas has eluded Trump’s administration for months as conditions worsen in Gaza. The territory recently had its deadliest day yet for aid-seekers in over 21 months of war, with at least 85 Palestinians killed while trying to reach food Sunday.
The sides have held weeks of talks in Qatar, reporting small signs of progress but no major breakthroughs. Officials have said a main sticking point is the redeployment of Israeli troops after any ceasefire takes place.
Witkoff said the U.S. is “resolute” in seeking an end to the conflict in Gaza and said it was “a shame that Hamas has acted in this selfish way.”
Earlier Thursday, Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu’s office recalled his country’s negotiating team back to Israel in light of Hamas’ response.
In a brief statement, the prime minister’s office expressed its appreciation for the efforts of Witkoff and mediators Qatar and Egypt, but it gave no further details.
The deal under discussion is expected to include a 60-day ceasefire in which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others in phases in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Aid supplies would be ramped up and the two sides would hold negotiations on a lasting truce.
The talks have been bogged down over competing demands for ending the war. Hamas says it will only release all hostages in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal and end to the war. Israel says it will not agree to end the war until Hamas gives up power and disarms, a condition the militant group rejects.
It’s the latest setback for Trump as he’s tried to position himself as peacemaker and made little secret of the fact he wants to receive a Nobel Peace Prize. The Republican president also had promised to quickly negotiate an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, but little progress has been made there, either.
With the war in Gaza, Trump earlier this month met with Netanyahu at the White House, putting his weight behind a push to reach a breakthrough and a ceasefire agreement.
But despite his newly strengthened partnership with Netanyahu following their countries’ joint strikes on Iran, the Israeli leader left Washington without any announced breakthrough.
The State Department said earlier in the week that Witkoff would be traveling to the Middle East for talks, but U.S. officials later said that Witkoff would instead travel to Europe.
It was unclear if he was holding meetings there Thursday.
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Associated Press writers Josef Federaman and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
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