Israeli and US officials have left the ceasefire talks happening in Doha, Qatar. According to the US, Hamas is not showing true interest in ending the fighting in Gaza.
A US representative, Steve Witkoff, explained that they were returning home for further discussions because of Hamas’s recent response. He said it was clear that Hamas didn’t want to reach a ceasefire agreement.
The Israeli government did not give a clear reason for leaving the talks. But an unnamed Israeli official said the negotiations had not completely broken down. The official mentioned that it was time to pause and that Israel would return when there’s a better chance of finding a solution.
Hamas responded by saying it was surprised by the US comments. It stated that it still wants to continue with the negotiations and hopes to reach a permanent ceasefire.
Mediators also admitted that the sides are still far apart on important matters. Witkoff added that Hamas didn’t seem united or sincere during the talks. He said the US would now consider other ways to bring the hostages back and help create peace in Gaza. He also blamed Hamas for acting selfishly and said the US remains committed to peace.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has not made any public comment about the withdrawal. But the Israeli official who spoke off the record said Hamas was refusing to make progress. He said the delegation had reached a point where they had to go back and would return later to continue.
Hamas, in a statement made early Friday, said it was still willing to negotiate and overcome the issues that are blocking a ceasefire.
The latest peace talks in Doha have been going on for more than two weeks with the help of Qatar and Egypt.
On Thursday, the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees said that 1 out of every 5 children in Gaza City is now suffering from malnutrition, and the situation is getting worse.
Over 100 aid groups and human rights organisations have warned about mass hunger in Gaza and urged global leaders to step in.
Israel, which controls the entry of goods into Gaza, denies there is a blockade and blames Hamas for the crisis. In early March, Israel stopped aid deliveries following a short truce. Although it later allowed some aid in, shortages of food, fuel, and medicine have grown worse.
According to the UN, over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the past two months while trying to collect food. Most of them died near aid centers run by US security contractors located inside Israeli military zones. Others were killed close to UN and other relief convoys.
Israel says Hamas is behind the violence at aid sites and insists its troops only fire warning shots. They deny intentionally targeting civilians.
The war began after Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. That attack killed about 1,200 people and led to 251 hostages being taken. Since then, Gaza’s health ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, says over 59,000 people have been killed in Israeli military operations.
