Israel and the United States on Thursday pulled their diplomats back from negotiating a cease-fire with Hamas, setting back a potential end to the War in Gaza that was believed to be a real possibility just weeks ago.

Hamas expresses "surprise" after US envoy Steve Witkoff also accuses the group of showing "a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire".

President Trump’s special envoy said that “we will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home,” though it was not clear that negotiations had halted.