Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story  Trump administration mulling ‘alternative plans’

US mediators are heading home after Hamas allegedly showed a lackluster effort to reach a cease-fire deal with Israel on Thursday, President Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said.

President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff ended the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage talks early in Doha, Qatar, on Thursday, accusing the Palestinian terrorist group of acting selfishly during this week’s negotiations.

The Trump administration said Thursday it was leaving Gaza ceasefire talks, blaming Hamas for failing to engage in good faith.  Steve Witkoff, now named President Trump’s special envoy for peace

President Donald Trump was caught by surprise last week by Israeli actions in Gaza and Syria, and in both instances phoned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “rectify” the matter, according to the White House.

President Donald Trump said he would meet again with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday to further efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza following new momentum after a US proposal to temporarily halt the fighting.

President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a dinner Monday night, with the two meeting at a key moment and lavishing praise on each other amid efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and determine the course of negotiations with Iran.