As world leaders renew their calls for an end to the conflict, Joe Biden has called on the Israeli prime minister to take action in Gaza following the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who masterminded the October 7 attack. He urged them to “move forward” and move forward toward a ceasefire. .
Hours after Thursday's killing in Gaza's southernmost town of Rafah, the U.S. president congratulated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and said Sinwar had “American blood, Israeli blood, and other blood on his hands.” is flowing,” he said.
As he arrived in Germany to meet European leaders, Biden said he was “more hopeful” about the prospect of a ceasefire and said he would send Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Israel within the next four to five days. .
Biden joins Vice President Kamala Harris, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in calling for progress toward a ceasefire.
The State Department said Mr. Blinken held separate phone calls Thursday with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani about ending the Middle East conflict. .
This push was carried out as part of Iran's mission to the United Nations. said The killing will strengthen the “spirit of resistance” and inspire future generations, while Lebanon's Iran-backed group Hezbollah announced that “the conflict with Israel is moving to a new and intensified phase.”
Hamas has not yet commented on the group's leader's death.
In a televised address, the Israeli prime minister described Sinwar's death as “the beginning of the end” but added that the country “must stand firm and continue to fight.”
“Today we proved that this will happen to anyone who wants to harm us,” Prime Minister Netanyahu said. “And the forces of good can always overcome the forces of evil and darkness. The war is still going on and it costs a lot of money.”
It is not yet clear how Shinwar's killing will affect Israeli operations in Gaza. Most analysts believe that Israel intends to occupy the territory militarily for the foreseeable future.
“We now have an opportunity for a 'day after' in Gaza, where Hamas is no longer in power, and a political solution that provides a better future for both Israelis and Palestinians,” Biden said ahead of his trip to Germany. Yahya Sinwar was an insurmountable obstacle in achieving all these goals. That obstacle no longer exists. However, many challenges remain before us. ”
Previously, Mr. Blinken called Sinwar “ “A vicious and unrepentant terrorist” And it said it had repeatedly broken agreements that were supposed to end the conflict. “Over the past several months, Sinwar has repeatedly rejected efforts by the United States and its partners to end this war through an agreement that would return hostages to their families and alleviate suffering for the Palestinian people,” Blinken said.
As news of Shinwar's death and gruesome images of his body spread in Gaza, many wondered what would happen next.
“The assassination of Yahya Sinwar is a tragedy for the people of Gaza and we did not expect it,” said Amal al-Hanawi, a native of Nuseyrat in central Gaza who fled fighting in the north. (28) said. “I have the impression that Hamas is over, that there is no longer a strong resistance force, that it has collapsed,” he told AFP, adding that this was “exactly what Prime Minister Netanyahu wants.” .
“We are exhausted and the war has gone too far. The war has taken everything from us,” said Shadi Nofal Abu Maher, 23. “The world has to intervene to end the war. “I hope they will do it,” he said.
In Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, a displaced Palestinian named Thabet Amour told Reuters that Palestinian fighting would continue. “This is a resistance that won't go away even when the men are gone,” he says. “Sinwar's assassination will not lead to an end to the resistance movement, nor will it lead to compromise, surrender or hoisting of the white flag.”
On the streets and on social networks, some people welcomed Shinwar's “resistance” and praised him for fighting to the end. “He will be remembered as a leader who died on the battlefield,” said Ahmed Omar, 36.
Families of Israeli hostages said that while the killing of Sinwar was an important accomplishment, it would not be completed while the hostages were still in Gaza.
Abi Marciano, the father of Noah Marciano, who was imprisoned and murdered by Hamas, told Israeli broadcaster KAN: “The monster that took her from me and the blood of all our daughters on his hands…'' , I finally got through the gate.'' Hell's. ”
“There's some justice, but it's no consolation,” he said. “We will only find solace when our girl friends Nama, Lili, Agam, Daniela and Karina return home.”
Some Israelis hailed the news of Shinwar's death as a sign of better things to come.
“We celebrate the death of Sinwar, who brought us nothing but harm and took our people hostage,” said Hemda, an Israeli woman who gave only her first name.
Shishir, 60, who attended a rally in Tel Aviv calling for the release of the hostages and gave only his first name, said his killing presented a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for a “hostage trade to end the war.” said.
The Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. The UN believes Israeli retaliation has killed at least 42,438 people, most of them civilians, according to health ministry statistics in Hamas-controlled areas.
With Agence France-Presse and Reuters
