Live updates: Israel-Gaza ceasefire talks stall as mass starvation crisis grows

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 has abruptly pulled negotiators out of talks, with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff saying the US will now “consider alternative options to bring the hostages home.”

Here’s what has happened in the past week:

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.