At the end of June, US President Donald Trump said he believed a ceasefire in Gaza would be agreed to “within the next week.” Four weeks later, the US abruptly pulled negotiators out of talks, with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff saying the US would “consider alternative options to bring the hostages home.”
Here’s what has happened since then:
July 21: An Israeli source told CNN that talks were progressing “slowly” but major roadblocks had been resolved, adding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was under US pressure to reach a deal. Two other sources said the US has communicated to Hamas that it is running out of patience. Hamas said it was exerting all efforts to reach a deal.
July 22: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce he was “very optimistic” on the possibility of a ceasefire. Bruce told CNN Witkoff would travel to Qatar later in the week for discussions if the talks reach an advanced stage.
July 23: An Egyptian source told CNN that Hamas had submitted a response, but it didn’t meet mediators’ expectations. Another source said Hamas has been told to re-submit its response, expressing pessimism about a truce. Hamas later said it had submitted a counterproposal.
July 24: Multiple officials familiar with the talks told CNN there was growing optimism about reaching the deal after Hamas submitted its counterproposal. But later in the day, Israel said it was recalling negotiators from Qatar. The US followed suit, with Witkoff saying Washington “will now consider alternative options.”
July 25: Netanyahu said Witkoff “got it right,” and that Israel is also “considering alternative options.” A source with direct knowledge of the talks told CNN the US pullback was “an earthquake.” A senior Israeli official, however, told CNN talks have “not at all” collapsed, and there is still an opportunity for the negotiations to resume if Hamas revises its demand for the number of prisoners to be released.
July 27: Trump blamed Hamas for the breakdown in ceasefire talks, saying the militant group doesn’t want to give back its remaining captives because then it will “be the end” of the group’s existence. Meanwhile, Hamas said that starvation crisis in Gaza meant there was “no point in continuing negotiations” under current conditions.
July 31: Hamas stopped engaging in any discussions regarding ceasefire and hostage release negotiations, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN. Hamas said it was committed to negotiations, but that the humanitarian situation in the enclave needed to improve for it do engage again. A senior Israeli official said that Israel and the United States were forming a new understanding on Gaza.
August 4: An Israeli official said that Netanyahu was “pushing for the freeing of the hostages through military defeat (of Hamas),” while accusing the militant group of refusing to engage in meaningful negotiations.
August 8: In the early hours of Friday morning, Israel’s security cabinet approved a plan to occupy Gaza City, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
