On Thursday, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff announced that Washington has pulled its negotiators from the Doha discussions aimed at establishing a ceasefire in Gaza, accusing Hamas of failing to act in “good faith.” This move follows Israel’s decision to summon its negotiators for consultations.
Witkoff stated in a social media post, “We have decided to withdraw our team from Doha for consultations following Hamas’s recent response, which clearly indicates its unwillingness to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.” He added, “While mediators have made considerable efforts, Hamas is neither flexible nor acting in good faith.”
The envoy noted that the U.S. will now explore “alternative options to bring the hostages home and attempt to create a more stable environment for the residents of Gaza.”
He expressed disappointment at Hamas’s “selfish” behavior and reiterated Washington’s commitment to “ending this conflict and achieving lasting peace in Gaza.”
In contrast, Israeli officials from Jerusalem stressed that the call for their negotiating team to return does not signify the end of negotiations but rather a temporary pause to review certain details before preparing for a new round of discussions.
Diplomatic observers suggest that the withdrawal of both Israel and the U.S. from the talks could be a tactical maneuver intended to secure further concessions, especially following the collapse of several agreements since the last significant prisoner exchange six months ago.
A mediator from a third-party country indicated that Witkoff’s statement aims to pressure Hamas to move closer to an agreement, noting that the U.S. has been urging Israel to offer more concessions behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, Hamas released a statement on its Telegram account, confirming that it had submitted its and other Palestinian factions’ response to the ceasefire proposal through the intermediaries.
Two Palestinian sources familiar with the negotiations informed AFP that Hamas’s response included amendments proposing guarantees for a permanent ceasefire with Israel.
One source explained that Hamas’s reply primarily addressed the entry of aid into Gaza, maps regarding the withdrawal of Israeli military forces from the region, and assurances for a permanent end to hostilities.
A Palestinian official involved in the negotiations described Hamas’s response as “positive,” adding that it included demands for modifications to the Israeli withdrawal maps.
The demands specified that Israeli troops withdraw from residential areas and the Salah al-Din road, which connects the northern and southern parts of the territory, allowing military forces to remain only up to 800 meters deep in all eastern and northern border areas of Gaza.
Hamas also demanded an increase in the number of Palestinian prisoners released with lengthy sentences in exchange for each living Israeli soldier, according to the same official.
This initiative is based on a proposal for a temporary ceasefire lasting 60 days, which would involve a gradual release of hostages held in Gaza in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian detainees.
Earlier on Thursday, Israel announced the recall of its delegates participating in the indirect ceasefire talks with Hamas in Qatar for consultations.
As pressure mounts to secure an agreement that ends the war and alleviates the suffering of over two million Palestinians in Gaza, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will recognize the state of Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly in New York this September.
Shortly before that, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced “emergency” talks between Paris, London, and Berlin scheduled for Friday to discuss the situation in Gaza, pointing out that “the suffering and starvation… cannot be described or defended.”
Starmer stated in a note that a future ceasefire in Gaza “would set us on the path to recognizing a Palestinian state.”