JAKARTA - The United States withdrew its negotiating team from Doha, the location of the ceasefire negotiations to end the war in Gaza.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said the latest response from Hamas showed a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire.
In contrast, the US will currently consider alternative options to repatriate the hostages.
"And trying to create a more stable environment for the Gaza people," said Witkoff as quoted by CNN, Friday, July 25.
This statement from the US key negotiator raises doubts about the future of diplomatic efforts.
This is in stark contrast to the signal of optimism about the prospect of reaching the agreement voiced by various sources, even after Hamas' latest proposal.
Witkoff, who had traveled to Italy to consult on a possible temporary ceasefire, said Hamas did not appear to have coordinated or acted in good faith.
"We are determined to end this conflict and achieve lasting peace in Gaza," he said.
SEE ALSO:
Israel also withdrew its negotiating team from the capital Qatar following Hamas' response, although an Israeli source said it was not an indication of a crisis in negotiations.
Instead, the team was recalled because decisions needed to be made regarding the status of negotiations that could not be carried out remotely, the source told CNN.
Another official familiar with the negotiations described Hamas' response as "positive."
Despite the gap between the two sides, the official said there was growing optimism that the gap was getting narrower and an agreement could be reached.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
