The United States has officially withdrawn its delegation from ceasefire negotiations in Qatar. The move followed Israel’s decision to exit the talks and blamed Hamas for blocking a potential deal.
The breakdown ends weeks of indirect talks aimed at stopping the fighting in Gaza and securing the release of hostages. Both Washington and Jerusalem say Hamas is acting in bad faith.
U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff announced the decision in a statement posted on X:
“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. 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.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also pulled his negotiators from Doha on Thursday. However, he explained that his government still wants a deal, just not on Hamas’s terms.
“We are working to reach another deal for the release of our hostages,” Netanyahu said in a speech. “But if Hamas interprets our willingness to reach a deal as a weakness… it is gravely mistaken.”
Mediators from Egypt and Qatar spent more than two weeks trying to broker an agreement. But the talks failed to produce a breakthrough.
According to a Palestinian source, Hamas responded to the latest proposal by demanding major changes. These included new terms for aid delivery, maps showing Israeli military withdrawal zones, and permanent guarantees to end the war.
More controversially, Hamas also demanded the release of 200 Palestinians serving life sentences for murdering Israelis. It asked for another 2,000 detainees captured in Gaza after the October 7 attacks.
These demands far exceeded what Israel had previously agreed to. The earlier framework reportedly included 125 life-term prisoners and 1,200 other detainees.
At a State Department briefing Thursday, spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed the U.S. was reevaluating its strategy. He did not share what “alternative options” were being considered.
When asked if the U.S. would return to the Doha talks, Pigott declined to say. That framework included representatives from Qatar, Egypt, Hamas, Israel, and the United States.
“Ultimately, the special envoy’s statement speaks for itself,” Pigott told reporters. “But the broader context is also important.”
“Hamas first broke the Oct. 7 ceasefire. Then it broke another ceasefire. Now, as the special envoy makes clear, it has again refused to act in good faith.”
“The question has never been our commitment to a ceasefire,” he said. “It has been Hamas’. They have shown that again and again.”
“Israel has long accepted a deal on the table. Hamas has long rejected it,” he added.
The State Department also confirmed that the U.S. will not take part in an upcoming United Nations conference. The event is focused on a potential two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.
The Trump administration has not announced what steps it will take next. The future of the hostages and Gaza remains uncertain.