Israeli soldiers stand near a tank near the border with the Gaza Strip on July 23, 2025 in Southern Israel, Israel.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images
Israel and the United States recalled their delegations from Gaza ceasefire talks for consultations on Thursday (July 24, 2025), with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff accusing the Palestinian militant group Hamas of failing to act in good faith in the talks.
“While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith. We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza,” Mr. Witkoff said in a statement on X.
Both Israel and Hamas are facing pressure at home and abroad to reach a deal following almost two years of war, with the humanitarian situation inside Gaza deteriorating sharply and Israelis worried about the conditions in which remaining hostages are being held.
An Israeli official with knowledge of the talks said the answer presented by Hamas to the most recent ceasefire proposal “does not allow for progress without a concession” by the group but that Israel intended to continue discussions.
Mediators have been seeking to clinch an agreement that would secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages still held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Palestinians gather to collect aid supplies after trucks loaded with aid entered from Israel through central Gaza, in Gaza City July 22, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
Reuters
Dozens of people have starved to death in Gaza the last few weeks as a wave of hunger crashes on the Palestinian enclave, according to local health authorities.
Published – July 24, 2025 10:44 pm IST
