Hamas Criticizes US Withdraws Negotiator Of Gaza's Armistice Negotiation

JAKARTA - Senior Hamas officials criticized the US special envoy Steve Witkoff's decision to withdraw negotiators from the ceasefire negotiations in Gaza. Even though the agreement breakthrough was claimed by Hamas to be imminent.

In a Facebook post on Friday, July 25, Basem Naim, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said Witkoff's reason for recalling negotiators from ceasefire negotiations did not accurately reflect the course of the negotiations.

"The negative statement made by the US envoy Witkoff contradicts the context in which the last round of negotiations actually took place, and he is well aware of this," Naim wrote.

Witkoff on Thursday said the US had decided to withdraw its negotiating team from Qatar for consultation.

He said Hamas was 'godic'.

According to Witkoff, the United States will consider alternative options to repatriate the hostages and try to create a more stable environment for the Gazan people.

Naim said a few days ago, Witkoff said both sides had agreed "three of the four points and almost made a breakthrough."

He also noted that mediators, including Qatar and Egypt, had received Hamas' response to the latest ceasefire proposal very positively.

"What we convey, by fully realizing the complexity of this situation, we believe it could lead to an agreement, if the enemy really wants it. This agreement can be the basis for a permanent ceasefire and the full withdrawal of enemy forces," Naim said.