US signals push for Gaza ceasefire after Israel ‘eliminated’ Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris say the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar should set the stage for a ceasefire and a return of Israeli hostages.
The US has signalled it would begin a new push for a ceasefire with vice president Kamala Harris saying that the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was “an opportunity to finally end the war in Gaza”.
“This moment gives us an opportunity to finally end the war in Gaza,” Ms Harris said.
“And it must end such that Israel is secure; the hostages are released; the suffering in Gaza ends; and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination.“
She echoed similar comments from President Joe Biden, who said it was “time for this war to end and bring these hostages home” as he arrived in Germany.
“Move on, move toward to a ceasefire in Gaza, make sure that we move in a direction that we’re going to be in a position to make things better for the whole world,” President Biden said.
“It’s time for this war to end and bring these hostages home.”
Einav Zangauker, the mother of Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker, told Jewish newspaper Haaretz: “You got your image of victory. Now reach a deal.”
“A year after the failure [on 7 October], this is the time to leverage the accomplishments and use [Sinwar’s] elimination to take a diplomatic step that will bring our loved ones back home …
“If Netanyahu does not take advantage of the momentum and does not stand up now and take a new Israeli initiative, even at the cost of ending the war, it means that he has decided to abandon my Matan and the other hostages, with the aim of prolonging the war and entrenching his rule.”
However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel’s war on Gaza is “not yet over”, after a stroke of luck led to the killing of the “butcher of Khan Younis” in Gaza.
Israeli troops observed three Hamas militants entering a building on Wednesday, local time, and called in a strike on the location, which partially collapsed the structure.
It was unknown that Sinwar was among those killed until a day later, when Israeli troops cleared the rubble and noticed an unmistakable resemblance.
In drone footage released by the Israeli Defence Force, Sinwar is seen sitting on a chair in a living room that has been largely destroyed. The Hamas leader appears injured after being shot and throws a projectile at the drone.
Israeli army’s spokesperson Daniel Hagari said after the leader was killed, he was found with a protective vest, a gun and 40,000 shekels.
Israel’s military and intelligence services, backed by the US, dedicated vast resources in its search for Sinwar who was hiding in the Tel Sultan neighbourhood.
But in the end, a unit of trainee squad commanders unexpectedly encountered him while on an operation in southern Gaza, according to four Israeli defense officials, who spoke to the New York Times on condition of anonymity.
Israeli officials initially matched Sinwar’s dental information and fingerprints with records on file, the Israeli police said in a statement.
A sample of his DNA was then tested to confirm his identity.
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Originally published as US signals push for Gaza ceasefire after Israel ‘eliminated’ Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar
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