Palestinian Official Dismisses Witkoff’s Ceasefire Remarks as “Psychological Warfare and False Israeli Propaganda”
Gaza (Quds News Network)- Dr. Ismail al-Thawabta, Director General of the Gaza Government Media Office, strongly criticized remarks made by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff regarding the Trump administration’s withdrawal from Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar, describing them as “false Israeli propaganda” aimed at “justifying the ongoing genocide and shifting blame onto the resistance.”
Witkoff said Thursday he is cutting short talks aimed at reaching a truce in Israel’s war on Gaza, claiming the latest proposal from Hamas showed “a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire”.
“While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith,” Witkoff said in a statement.
“We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza,” Witkoff added, without elaborating.
Earlier in the day, Hamas had submitted its latest response to a ceasefire framework floated by mediators Qatar, Egypt and the US. Netanyahu’s office confirmed receipt of the response, and said it was under review. Neither side disclosed the contents.
Witkoff made the announcement just hours after the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had also recalled its negotiating team from Qatar.
In response, al-Thawabta called Witkoff’s remarks “malicious, biased, dishonest, and categorically rejected. They attempt to distort facts and fabricate reality before the international community.”
“These remarks are nothing but part of the ongoing psychological warfare and false Israeli propaganda aimed at justifying the continuation of genocide and aggression, while enabling the Israeli occupation to evade the obligations of a comprehensive and just agreement demanded by the Palestinian people, one that includes a full cessation of attacks, complete withdrawal of occupation forces, return of the displaced, unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid, and the establishment of a genuine ceasefire,” he added.
“Blaming the Palestinian resistance and accusing it of lack of coordination or good faith,” he said, “is a blatant reversal of the truth.”
He noted that mediators “are fully aware that it is the Israeli occupation that is stalling, placing obstacles, deliberately undermining negotiations, and refusing to offer any guarantees to halt the war, allow aid delivery, begin reconstruction, or fully withdraw from the Gaza Strip.”
Regarding Witkoff’s “alternative options”, al-Thawabta said the ongoing massacres and starvation “exposes the occupation’s intent to continue its policy of genocide and ethnic cleansing under the pretext of “hostage retrieval”—a narrative that conceals a broader aggressive agenda.”
Earlier that day, back-channel mediator between Hamas and Witkoff, Bishara Bahbah offered a starkly different tone. He praised Hamas’s proposal as “realistic and positive,” urging Israel to begin “serious and rapid negotiations.”
