Efforts to end the relentless siege of Gaza have been set back by the abrupt end to peace talks in Qatar. Both the United States and Israel have withdrawn their negotiating teams, accusing Hamas of a “lack of desire to reach a ceasefire.

The US and Israeli negotiating teams involved in efforts to secure a ceasefire between the Palestinian militant Hamas movement and Israel in the Gaza Strip have both been recalled home in a sign the talks may be on the brink of failure.

Gaza ceasefire talks were dealt a new blow on Thursday when the US and Israel withdrew their negotiating teams from Qatar, with the Trump administration saying Hamas is not acting in good faith.

Hamas issued a scathing statement in which it rejected U.S. criticism of its handling of negotiations aimed at ending the nearly two-year-long war in Gaza.

What are the sticking points? The specifics are unclear, but US envoy Steve Witkoff accused Hamas of not “acting in good faith” in negotiations. Previously, Hamas’s desire for assurances about a permanent end to the conflict has been an issue for Israel.