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

A senior Hamas official publicly criticized U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff on Friday, accusing him of misrepresenting the facts surrounding the stalled Gaza truce negotiations. The backlash followed Washington’s decision to step away from the indirect talks, blaming Hamas for halting progress on a potential ceasefire and hostage agreement.

US President Donald Trump blamed Hamas for stalled Gaza ceasefire talks, backing Israel to escalate its offensive. He withdrew negotiators from Doha, citing Hamas’s bad faith, and urged “finishing the job.