Joe Biden has urged Israel’s prime minister to “move on” and make progress in the direction of a ceasefire in Gaza following the killing of Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas chief and mastermind of the 7 October assault, as world leaders renewed a push for an finish to the battle.
Hours after the killing on Thursday in Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, the US president congratulated Benjamin Netanyahu, saying Sinwar “has a lot of blood on his hands — American blood, Israeli blood, and others”.
Talking as he arrived in Germany to fulfill European leaders, Biden mentioned he felt “more hopeful” concerning the prospects of a ceasefire and would ship US secretary of state Antony Blinken to Israel within the subsequent 4 or 5 days.
Biden joins figures together with vice-president Kamala Harris, British prime minister Keir Starmer, French president Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in urging progress in the direction of a ceasefire.
Blinken held separate telephone calls on Thursday with Saudi overseas minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Qatari prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on ending the battle within the Center East, the state division mentioned.
The push got here as Iran’s mission to the UN mentioned the killing would strengthen the “the spirit of resistance” and encourage future generations, whereas Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed group in Lebanon, introduced “the transition to a new and escalating phase in the confrontation with Israel”.
Hamas has not but commented on the dying of the group’s chief.
In a TV deal with, the Israeli prime minister described Sinwar’s dying because the “beginning of the end” however added that the nation should “stand firm on our ground and to continue to fight”.
“We have demonstrated today that all those who try to harm us, this is what happens to them,” Netanyahu mentioned. “And how the forces of good can always beat the forces of evil and darkness. The war is still ongoing, and it’s costly.”
It’s not but clear what influence Sinwar’s killing may have on Israel’s marketing campaign in Gaza. Most analysts imagine that Israel is now intent on a army occupation of the territory for the foreseeable future.
Forward of his go to to Germany, Biden mentioned: “There is now the opportunity for a ‘day after’ in Gaza without Hamas in power, and for a political settlement that provides a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Yahya Sinwar was an insurmountable obstacle to achieving all of those goals. That obstacle no longer exists. But much work remains before us.”
Earlier, Blinken known as Sinwar a “vicious and unrepentant terrorist” and mentioned he had repeatedly torpedoed agreements that may have ended the battle. “On multiple occasions over the past months, Sinwar rebuffed efforts by the United States and its partners to bring this war to a close through an agreement that would return the hostages to their families and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people,” Blinken mentioned.
As information of Sinwar’s dying, and grotesque pictures of his physique, unfold in Gaza, many have been left questioning what the longer term holds.
“The assassination of Yahya Sinwar is a tragedy for the people of Gaza, we did not expect it,” mentioned Amal al-Hanawi, 28, from Nuseirat within the centre of the Gaza Strip the place she took refuge after fleeing combating within the north. “I have the impression that Hamas is over, that there is no longer a powerful resistance, it has fallen apart,” she instructed AFP, saying that that is “exactly what Netanyahu wants”.
“We are exhausted, the war has gone too far, it has taken everything from us,” mentioned Shadi Nofal Abou Maher, 23, saying he hoped “the world will intervene” to finish the battle.
In Khan Younis within the south of the Gaza Strip, a displaced Palestinian named Thabet Amour instructed Reuters the Palestinian battle would proceed. “This is resistance that does not disappear when men disappear,” he mentioned. “The assassination of Sinwar will not lead to the end of the resistance or to a compromise or surrender and raising the white flag.”
Within the streets in addition to on social networks, some welcomed the “resistance” led by Sinwar, praising him for combating till the top. “He will be remembered as a leader who died on the battlefield,” mentioned 36-year-old Ahmed Omar.
Households of Israeli hostages mentioned that whereas the killing of Sinwar was a major achievement, it could not be full whereas hostages are nonetheless in Gaza.
Avi Marciano, the daddy of Noa Marciano, who was killed in captivity by Hamas, instructed Israeli broadcaster KAN that “the monster, the one who took her from me, who had the blood of all our daughters on his hands, finally met the gates of hell.”
“A little justice, but no comfort,” he mentioned. “There will be comfort only when Naama, Liri, Agam, Daniela and Karina, our girls’ friends, return home.”
Some Israelis hailed the information of Sinwar’s dying as an indication of higher issues to return.
“I am celebrating the death of Sinwar, who has brought us nothing but harm, who has taken people hostage,” mentioned one Israeli girl, Hemda, who solely gave her first identify.
Attending a Tel Aviv rally demanding the hostages’ launch, 60-year-old Sisil, who additionally gave solely her first identify, mentioned his killing offered a “once in a lifetime opportunity” for “a hostage deal to end the war”.
The battle in Gaza was triggered by Hamas assaults on southern Israel on 7 October 2023 that killed 1,200 folks and noticed 250 folks taken hostage. Israel’s retaliation has killed no less than 42,438 folks, principally civilians, based on figures from the well being ministry within the Hamas-run territory, which the UN considers dependable.
With Agence France-Presse and Reuters
