U.S. and Israeli officials abruptly pulled their negotiating teams out of Qatar on Thursday, effectively collapsing the most recent round of hostage talks with Hamas. The move followed what both countries described as a bad-faith response from the terror group that dashed any immediate hopes of a ceasefire or hostage release deal.

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff didn’t mince words. “Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith,” he said, adding that the Biden-era strategy of negotiation appears to have run its course. Witkoff declared the U.S. would now “consider alternative options” to bring the remaining hostages home and create stability in Gaza. The statement notably hinted at the possible use of military force.

The Israeli government, while more restrained in its tone, took the same step: recalling negotiators from Doha. A senior Israeli official said the move “does not signal a crisis” but acknowledged that talks will now continue from within Israel, not abroad.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was less ambiguous. In a public statement, he echoed the U.S. envoy’s frustration. “Hamas is the obstacle to a hostage release deal,” Netanyahu said. “Together with our U.S. allies, we are now considering alternative options to bring our hostages home, end Hamas’s terror rule, and secure lasting peace.”

The abrupt shift follows weeks of indirect discussions in Qatar, mediated by Arab officials. At the center of those talks were 50 remaining hostages, 20 of whom are still believed to be alive in Hamas custody. Israel had reportedly agreed to generous terms, including a phased ceasefire and aid corridor, but Hamas rejected those proposals—twice in one week.

Even Arab mediators labeled Hamas’s earlier reply “not serious.” There was brief hope that a second response would bring progress, but that hope evaporated when both the U.S. and Israel declared the process deadlocked.

Hamas’s stance hasn’t changed: it demands a full withdrawal of Israeli troops, guarantees for its leadership’s safety, and long-term control over parts of Gaza. Israel, meanwhile, insists Hamas must disarm and its leaders must leave the territory altogether.

With talks collapsed, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have already begun acting on intelligence about where hostages may be held. IDF units are advancing into Hamas-held areas in Gaza with the goal of either staging direct rescues or pressuring captors into negotiating individual side deals.

The breakdown in diplomacy marks a stark turning point. For months, the Biden and Netanyahu governments have cautiously tried to balance international pressure with the domestic demand to bring hostages home. Now, that balance appears to have shifted.

The diplomatic failure also raises serious questions for Hamas. While it continues to enjoy support in some corners of the Arab world, its refusal to make any meaningful concessions has further isolated it internationally. With U.S. and Israeli negotiators now gone and military operations ramping up, Hamas may soon face a new phase of conflict—one that will be fought on Israel’s terms.

Whether hostages can still be saved before that phase begins remains the agonizing question. But for now, one thing is clear: the path of patient diplomacy has hit a dead end.