Israel and the United States on Thursday pulled their diplomats back from negotiating a cease-fire with Hamas, setting back a potential end to the War in Gaza that was believed to be a real possibility just weeks ago.

Israel is considering “ alternative options ” to cease-fire talks with Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday, though he did not elaborate on what those alternatives might be.

President Trump’s special envoy said that “we will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home,” though it was not clear that negotiations had halted.