US blames Hamas as Gaza negotiations fail

Shafaq News – Washington (Updated at 00:55)

The United States has recalled its Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and his team from Doha on Thursday after ceasefire negotiations with Hamas broke down.

In a press briefing, Deputy State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott linked the move to Hamas’s latest response, which he described as showing no willingness to engage constructively.

“The issue is not our commitment to a ceasefire, but Hamas’s readiness to move forward,” Pigott noted, stressing that all options remain open, though no alternative steps were disclosed.

Pigott also addressed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling aid deliveries insufficient. He further stressed that Washington is working to ensure aid reaches civilians directly and avoids diversion. “We are fully aware of the scale of the disaster in the Strip.”

In response, Hamas issued a statement defending its approach to the talks. The group stated that it had acted “with full national responsibility and a high degree of flexibility across all files” since the beginning of the negotiation track.

Hamas expressed surprise at what it called the “negative remarks” made by US envoy Steve Witkoff, stating that “these statements came at a time when mediators expressed appreciation and satisfaction with our constructive and positive stance.”

It further asserted that its latest position “opens the door to a comprehensive agreement,” reaffirming its “readiness to continue negotiations and engage in efforts that remove obstacles and lead to a permanent ceasefire.”

Earlier, both the US and Israel withdrew their delegations from the Doha talks, describing Hamas’s latest position as a “major obstacle” to reaching an agreement.