Negotiations that resumed on July 6 have been stalled again as Israeli and U.S. delegations leave Qatar.

Israeli and U.S. negotiators have left Gaza ceasefire talks that were ongoing in Doha, with U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, touting “alternative options”.

Hamas had confirmed that it responded to the latest Gaza ceasefire proposal to mediators, the U.S., Qatar and Egypt on Thursday, adding it remained keen on reaching a permanent ceasefire.

On the contrary, Witkoff accused the Palestinian group of lacking the desire to achieve a deal via a 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 on Thursday.

“While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith.”

The latest round of ceasefire negotiations resumed on July 6 after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a delegation to the Qatari capital. The talks centred around a 60-day truce proposed by the mediators.

Hamas stated that it was surprised by the U.S. special envoy’s remarks and claimed that it had made efforts to resolve the ongoing differences.

“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,” the Palestinian group said late on Thursday.

Witkoff would travel to Doha by the end of the week from Rome, where he was due to meet senior Qatari and Israeli officials on Thursday.

American news outlet Axios reported that Witkoff would only make the trip if progress were made in the ongoing negotiations, citing two officials privy to the matter.

Despite positive reports that came out in the past few weeks, the key sticking point has proved to be the withdrawal map of Israeli occupation forces from the Gaza Strip.

Hamas said it had sought guarantees from Israel to completely halt the genocidal war in the Gaza Strip and withdraw from the territory. In contrast, Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected Hamas’s demands, vowing to continue the war under the pretext of destroying the group’s capabilities.

Hamas had announced on July 9 that it was willing to release 10 Israeli captives as a gesture of flexibility during ongoing negotiations and that the flow of aid into the besieged strip remained a core talking point.

Details of the agreement, however, have not been disclosed by any side yet. Israel had said on Thursday that it was reviewing Hamas’s response, but has yet to comment on the withdrawal of its delegation.

Netanyahu hits back at Macron over Palestinian State recognition

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hit back at French President Emmanuel Macron over the latter’s plans to recognise Palestine as a state in September.

France will formalise the decision at the United Nations General Assembly in September, according to the French President.

“In keeping with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the State of Palestine,” Macron wrote on X on Thursday.

Hours later, Netanyahu said he strongly condemns Macron’s decision, accusing him of rewarding terror.

“Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became,” Netanyahu wrote on X.

“A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it.”

Macron’s announcement, however, drew praise from the Palestinian Authority and Hamas.

France joins fellow European Union members Spain, Ireland and Norway in beginning the process of recognising a Palestinian state.

France was also one of the 25 nations that filed a joint statement calling for an end to the genocidal war in Gaza, which Israel eventually dismissed.

It comes on the backdrop of Israel’s continued onslaught, which has killed at least 61,700 Palestinians since October 7, 2023, although the figure does not include thousands trapped under the rubble.

Israel’s refusal to allow aid since March and deliberate targeting of aid seekers, in addition to its continuing onslaught, has plunged the besieged enclave into a famine.

“The urgent priority today is to end the war in Gaza and rescue the civilian population,” Macron added.