KUALA LUMPUR – US President Joe Biden and European leaders are expected to renew calls for a Gaza ceasefire following Israel’s announcement of the death of Yahya Sinwar, a key Hamas leader held responsible for the October 7 attack.
While on Air Force One, Biden described Sinwar’s killing as a “good day,” claiming it removed a major hurdle to securing a ceasefire and a hostage deal, the AFP reported.
Biden is in Germany as part of a 24-hour visit to meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
The discussions will focus not only on the Israel-Hamas conflict but also on the ongoing war in Ukraine. Biden’s visit comes at a critical moment, as Ukraine faces its third winter at war with Russia.
Sinwar’s death marks a significant moment in the Israeli-Gaza conflict. Israel blames him for orchestrating the attacks that killed over 1,200 people in Israel and saw 251 hostages taken.
Sinwar had led Hamas in Gaza since 2017 and was described as its military mastermind. His killing in Rafah, southern Gaza, was confirmed after Israel compared dental records and fingerprints.
According to the BBC, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said that Sinwar was found with weapons and money when he was cornered by Israeli soldiers in a building.
Lt Col Hertzi Halevi, the IDF chief, said, “The world is now better off without him.”
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, hailed the killing as “the beginning of the end” of the Gaza conflict but emphasised that the war would continue until Hamas lays down its arms and returns the remaining hostages.
Netanyahu has vowed to press ahead with military action in Gaza until all hostages are released. He reiterated that Hamas would no longer control Gaza, calling on Gazans to seize the opportunity to “free themselves from its tyranny.”
The death of Sinwar follows the killing of another Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran earlier this year. Sinwar, born in Gaza in 1962, was a long-time member of Hamas, having been involved in the group’s activities since his youth. He spent decades in Israeli prisons before his release in a prisoner exchange in 2011.
Hamas has yet to comment on Sinwar’s death, and it remains unclear who will succeed him. Iran, a key backer of Hamas, warned that his killing would only strengthen resistance against Israel.
Meanwhile, Western leaders have expressed support for Israel, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stating that the UK would “not mourn” Sinwar’s death and French President Emmanuel Macron calling it an opportunity to end the conflict.
The Gaza health ministry reports that nearly 42,500 people have been killed and over 99,000 injured in the ongoing conflict. Despite this, Biden and European leaders continue to push for a long-term ceasefire, with Biden praising Sinwar’s death as a step towards peace. – October 18, 2024