Following Hamas’ most recent suggestion, which revealed “a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire,” special envoy Steve Witkoff of the United States has stated that he is cutting short talks aimed at a truce in Israel’s conflict with Gaza.
In a statement on Thursday, shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced Israel had also called in its negotiating team from Qatar in response to the most recent diplomatic hush, Witkoff made the announcement.
Hamas did not respond right away. Israel has been repeatedly accused of preventing a ceasefire agreement by the group.
Hamas had earlier submitted its most recent response to a ceasefire agreement floated by US, Qatar, and Egypt mediators earlier in the day. The response was confirmed and declared under review by Netanyahu’s office. The contents were not made public by either side.
As Israel’s severe restrictions on the entry of aid continue to escalate, international pressure is being put on Hamas and Israel to reach an agreement.
Since Israel’s invasion of Gaza in October 2023, at least 115 people have died from malnutrition, mostly in recent weeks, as a result of warnings from the UN and international aid organizations about the widespread starvation that Gaza’s residents are experiencing.
Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith, according to Witkoff in a statement.
Without going into further detail, Witkoff said, “We will now look at alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to make a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.”
Businessman Witkoff, who had no prior formal diplomatic experience, said it was “sorry Hamas has acted in this selfish way” and that the US is still “resolute” in pursuing an end to the Gaza war.
A 60-day ceasefire, according to reports, would allow Hamas to release 10 living prisoners and 18 others’ remains from the current proposal under discussion. As the two parties engaged in discussions about a long-lasting truce, Palestinians who are currently imprisoned by Israel would be freed, and aid supplies would increase.
Officials from both sides have previously raised a conflict over what would happen if there were any new ceasefire, but details of the current conflict are not immediately known.
Despite being warned that such a goal is unrealistic, Israel has repeatedly stated that it intends to spend the long term on the military in Gaza in order to completely defeat Hamas.
Israel Katz, the country’s defense minister, reportedly proposed a plan to force Palestinians to be relocated to a “humanitarian city” within Gaza earlier this month. Critics claim this plan would be against international law.
The plan has drawn international criticism, with the Israeli government facing concerns that it would foreclose cease-fire negotiations and prevent the release of Palestinian prisoners who are still being held in Gaza.
Shihab Rattansi, a journalist from Washington, DC, claimed it was still unclear whether the US’s decision to leave the talks was a “negotiating tactic.”
He said, “It’s a very stern tweet about ‘alternative options for a more stable environment for the people of Gaza’.”
“We are aware that Trump hasn’t ruled out ethnic cleansing or, in his words, Palestinian “self deportation.”
We simply don’t know at this time whether it’s the negotiation position or the negotiations’ conclusion, Rattansi said.
Since Israel’s conflict with Gaza began following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which claimed the lives of at least 1, 139 people, it has claimed the lives of at least 59,587 Palestinians.
Source: Aljazeera
Leave a Reply