United States special envoy Steve Witkoff said that he is cutting short talks aimed at reaching a truce in Israel's war on Gaza, after the latest proposal from Hamas showed "a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire", reports Al Jazeera.
Witkoff announced in a statement on Thursday, just hours after the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had also recalled its negotiators from Qatar amid the latest diplomatic endeavours.
"While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith," Witkoff said in the statement.
"We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza," Witkoff said, without elaborating.
Hamas, which has repeatedly accused Israel of blocking a ceasefire agreement, said it was surprised by Witkoff's remarks.
"The movement affirms its keenness to continue negotiations and engage in them in a manner that helps overcome obstacles and leads to a permanent ceasefire agreement," said Hamas in a statement released late on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, Hamas had submitted its latest response to a ceasefire framework advanced by mediators Qatar, Egypt and the US.
Netanyahu's office confirmed receipt of the response, and said it was under review, though neither side disclosed the contents.
Both Israel and Hamas are being subjected to mounting international pressure to agree to a ceasefire, as the humanitarian crisis in the besieged Palestinian territory continues to devolve rapidly due to Israel's severe aid restrictions.
The current proposal under discussion has been reported to include a 60-day ceasefire, which would see Hamas release 10 living captives and the remains of 18 others. In turn, Palestinians imprisoned by Israel would be released, and aid supplies would be ramped up as the two sides held negotiations on a lasting truce.
Details of the current impediments to a ceasefire are not readily clear; however, officials from both sides have previously cited a dispute over what would happen in the wake of any new ceasefire.
Israel has repeatedly maintained its plans of long-term military deployment in Gaza, seeking a complete defeat of Hamas, despite warnings that such a goal is unrealistic.
Earlier this month, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz reportedly laid out a plan for the forced transfer of Palestinians to a so-called humanitarian city within Gaza, an extreme approach that critics say would violate international law.
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