US and Israel Halt Hostage Negotiations with Hamas
On Thursday, the US and Israel stepped back from indirect negotiations with Hamas in Doha, Qatar, citing the group’s lack of seriousness in reaching a deal.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff commented, suggesting the continuing discussions might have been the only path to ensure the safety of the remaining hostages.
Following Hamas’s latest response, I made the decision to withdraw the team for further consultations. This clearly reflects a lack of commitment to achieving a ceasefire in Gaza. Despite substantial efforts from mediators, Hamas does not seem to be acting with coordination or genuine intent. We’re exploring other avenues to bring hostages home and create a more stable situation for Gaza’s residents. It’s disappointing that Hamas has chosen this selfish approach. We remain committed to ending this conflict and fostering lasting peace in the region.
Reports indicate that Israel’s reaction was somewhat more measured, possibly because of the sensitive political landscape within the country.
On Thursday, Israel and the US recalled their negotiators from Qatar after extensive mediation efforts with Hamas, aimed at establishing a hostage agreement in Gaza.
Witkoff described the terrorist group’s response as “selfish,” emphasizing that Hamas seems to lack coordination and good faith. Israeli officials later communicated to the media that the negotiators’ withdrawal did not indicate a crisis, reaffirming their intention to pursue a deal domestically.
Currently, there are about 50 hostages in Gaza, and it’s believed that around 20 of them are still alive.
Hamas recently responded to Israel’s ceasefire offer for the second time this week, with an earlier response dismissed as not serious by an Arab intermediary. They were expected to offer a more productive reply, but both the US and Israel concluded that Hamas is unwilling to negotiate meaningfully.
Israel has stated that disarming Hamas and the departure of its leader from Gaza are prerequisites for any agreement.
The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) is on the move within areas of Gaza controlled by Hamas, where hostages are thought to be held, seeking to secure their release and potentially apply pressure on individual prisoners.
