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U.S. says it pulled Doha negotiating team after latest Hamas response; will consider "alternative options" to free hostages
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Summary
Special envoy Steve Witkoff announced the U.S. brought its Doha team home for consultations, saying Hamas’s latest response showed a lack of willingness to reach a ceasefire; State Department reiterated U.S. commitment to a ceasefire while calling Hamas the central obstacle and declined to specify the "alternative options."
Special envoy Steve Witkoff said the United States has "decided to bring our team home from Doha for consultations," citing "the latest response from Hamas, which clearly shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza." The State Department spokesperson said the withdrawal reflects concerns about Hamas’s willingness to negotiate, but stressed the U.S. remains committed to securing a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
Why this matters: U.S. participation in Doha-format mediation has been part of international efforts to negotiate pauses in fighting and hostage releases. The withdrawal signals a pause in that particular diplomatic track and leaves public questions about what other measures the U.S. may pursue to secure hostages and reduce violence.
At the briefing, the spokesperson twice declined to describe the unspecified "alternative options" Witkoff referenced, saying only that "the statement speaks for itself" and that the situation is "very dynamic." When pressed on whether the United States would continue to work with Doha mediators such as Qatar and Egypt, the spokesperson referred reporters back to the special envoy's statement and repeated that the central issue has been "Hamas's commitment to a ceasefire." The spokesperson also said the U.S. and its envoys "have entered in good faith in trying to reach an end to this conflict."
Reporters asked whether the withdrawal meant the U.S. was abandoning the Doha format entirely; the spokesperson declined to confirm any change to the diplomatic approach, saying the statement by Witkoff was the operative announcement. When asked for examples of the "alternative options," the spokesperson said, "At this point, I have nothing to" add.
The briefing also included repeated assertions from the spokesperson that Hamas had broken prior ceasefires and "does not appear to be coordinated nor acting in good faith." The State Department declined to provide private diplomatic details about its conversations with Hamas or other parties. The briefing offered no new public timeline for renewed talks or disclosures of specific contingency measures for securing the hostages.
