President Trump’s particular envoy Steve Witkoff mentioned Thursday the U.S. was slicing brief the most recent spherical of Gaza ceasefire talks and bringing its negotiating staff dwelling from Qatar for consultations, after he mentioned Hamas had issued a response that “shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire.”
The talks have been slowed down over conflicting calls for on phrases to finish the 21-month struggle. Hamas says it should solely launch all the hostages nonetheless held in Gaza in trade for a full Israeli withdrawal and an finish to the struggle.
Israel says it is not going to agree to finish the struggle till Hamas frees the hostages, offers up energy and disarms — a situation the U.S.- and Israeli-designated terrorist group rejects.
Trump envoy blames Hamas for breakdown of ceasefire talks
“While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith,” Witkoff mentioned in a press release. “We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.”
It was unclear what “alternative options” the U.S. was contemplating. The White Home had no instant remark, and the State Division didn’t instantly reply to messages.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recalled the Israeli negotiating staff to Israel in mild of Hamas’ response on Thursday morning. In a short assertion, the prime minister’s workplace expressed its appreciation for the efforts of Witkoff and mediators Qatar and Egypt, however gave no additional particulars.
The official mentioned he was “really surprised” by the “out of context statement by the U.S. envoy and the overarching attitude that reflects a preprepared, irresponsible and negative response” by the U.S.
The official confused that Hamas was “still involved in the ceasefire talks” and anticipated the mediators and the worldwide group to “carry their responsibility” to alleviate the dire circumstances in Gaza.
Dad and mom of Israeli-American soldier killed by Hamas say “it’s time” for ceasefire deal
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Earlier Thursday, an Israeli official had instructed The Related Press that Hamas’ newest response was “workable.”
One other official with data of the ceasefire talks instructed the AP Hamas had submitted a “positive response” via Qatari mediators.
Israel launched its struggle in Gaza in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist assault that killed some 1,200 Israelis and noticed 251 others taken hostage. Many of the captives have been launched or rescued, however Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says 50 stay in Gaza, together with 20 nonetheless believed to be alive.
The struggle has killed greater than 59,000 Palestinians, in response to Gaza’s Hamas-run Ministry of Well being, which doesn’t distinguish between militants and civilians, however says greater than half of the useless are ladies and kids.
“Children in the Gaza Strip are starving to death”
The United Nations backed the decision by the media organizations for Israel to let sufficient meals provides into Gaza and permit journalists to enter and exit freely. U.N. employees in Gaza are hungry, too, deputy spokesman Farhan Haq mentioned Thursday.
Muhammad Zakariya Ayyoub al-Matouq, a 1.5-year-old little one in Gaza Metropolis, faces life-threatening malnutrition because the humanitarian scenario worsens amid Israel’s struggle with Hamas, July 21, 2025. Having dropped from about 20 kilos to only 13, he struggles to outlive in a tent in Gaza Metropolis, the place milk, meals, and different fundamental requirements are missing.
Ahmed Jihad Ibrahim Al-arini/Anadolu/Getty
Persons are ravenous “because we’re just not getting in,” he mentioned, reiterating that obstacles imposed by Israel had been inhibiting the supply of U.N. assist.
“If this does not get better soon and more aid goes through all the various checkpoints, people will die,” Haq mentioned. “We’ve been saying this for months, and now we’re at the point where, in fact, people are dying.”
UNICEF, the U.N.’s Kids’s Fund, mentioned in a press release on Thursday that 798 Palestinian civilians, together with youngsters, had been killed close to assist distribution websites in Gaza between Could 27 and July 7 whereas searching for meals.
Greater than 100 folks have died in Gaza from malnutrition for the reason that struggle began, UNICEF mentioned, and 80% had been youngsters. The charity mentioned screening within the Palestinian enclave had discovered 6,000 youngsters in a state of acute malnourishment in June alone, marking a 180% improve since February.
“Children in the Gaza Strip are starving to death. Severe malnutrition is spreading among children faster than aid can reach them, and the world is watching it happen,” UNICEF Regional Director for the Mideast Edouard Beigbeder mentioned within the group’s assertion.
Israel says it’s permitting sufficient assist into Gaza and it blames U.N. companies for failing to distribute it. However these companies say it’s practically not possible to soundly ship assist due to Israeli restrictions and a breakdown of regulation and order in Gaza, with crowds of 1000’s swarming round meals vans as quickly as they transfer into the territory.
UNICEF mentioned that From Could 19 to July 2, a median of 30 U.N. assist vans entered Gaza per day, in comparison with the common of 500 vans per day that had been coming into earlier than the struggle. The charity mentioned present meals provides in Gaza amounted to about 6% of the traditional, pre-war ranges.
Palestinians struggling to entry meals amid Israel’s struggle in opposition to Hamas wait to obtain sizzling meals distributed by a charity group in Gaza Metropolis, July 16, 2025.
Ahmed Jihad Ibrahim Al-arini/Anadolu/Getty
In larger numbers than ever, youngsters hollowed up by starvation are overwhelming the Affected person’s Buddies Hospital, the principle emergency middle for malnourished youngsters in northern Gaza.
Workers on the facility mentioned 5 younger youngsters who died final weekend of malnutrition marked a change: They had been the primary deaths seen on the middle in youngsters who had no preexisting situations. Signs are getting worse, with youngsters too weak to cry or transfer, mentioned Dr. Rana Soboh, a nutritionist. In previous months, most kids introduced in malnourished improved with remedy, regardless of provide shortages, however now sufferers keep longer and don’t get higher, she mentioned.
The shortage of fundamental well being care and sanitation can be enabling lethal ailments to unfold in Gaza, the charity OXFAM warned on Friday.
“Water-borne diseases that are both preventable and readily treatable have increased by almost 150% inside Gaza over the past three months as Israel continues to deliberately block aid,” the group mentioned. “Available multi-agency health data shows that the numbers of Palestinians presenting to health facilities with acute watery diarrhea have increased by 150 percent, bloody diarrhea by 302 percent, and acute jaundice cases by 101 percent.”
OXFAM mentioned the figures had been doubtless “grossly under-reported because most of the two million people trapped by Israel’s continuing siege have little access to the few healthcare facilities that have managed to keep operating.”
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