President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff blasted Hamas‘s response to the proposed ceasefire brokered by the United States in the war in Gaza.

Hamas, the terrorist group that sparked the conflict in Gaza with its Oct. 7, 2023, attacks against Israel, said Saturday it had responded to the U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal. The New York Times reported Hamas was seeking a more permanent end to the conflict and a withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Witkoff said Hamas’s response was “totally unacceptable” in a post on X Saturday.