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.

Special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to travel to Europe and possibly Middle East for meetings on issues including the Israel-Hamas conflict.

If sufficient progress is made, Witkoff will travel from Rome to Doha towards the end of the week to secure a deal, according to reports. US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy to the Middle East,

President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, was heading to the Middle East as the U.S. tries once again to reach a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, a breakthrough that has eluded the administration for months as conditions worsen in Gaza.

Hamas "didn't really want to make a deal" on a new Gaza cease-fire and hostage release, Trump said after the U.S. and Israel pulled negotiations from Qatar.

Witkoff had previously indicated he would not return to the Middle East until Israel and Hamas were close to reaching a peace agreement

U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Europe this week for meetings on Israel's war in Gazaand a range of other issues, a U.S. official said on Tuesday, adding Witkoff will continue pushing for a ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave.

U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is seeing red after the latest negotiation talks have more than just reached a standstill. But now the negotiators are being called back home from Doha as well. Witkoff is slamming Hamas's behavior on X,