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USA: The death of the leader of Hamas, an opportunity for a "political solution"

2024-10-18 19:01:25, Kosova & Bota CNA

USA: The death of the leader of Hamas, an opportunity for a "political

United States President Joe Biden said the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar opens the door to a "political solution" between Israelis and Palestinians. As VOA White House Correspondent Patsy Widakuswara reports, President Biden made this statement shortly after the Israeli military announced that it had killed Sinar, the mastermind of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7 of last year, who was also the target of Israel's one-year revenge campaign in Gaza. Hamas confirmed the killing of its leader, calling him a martyr, while Hezbollah, another Iranian-backed militant group, vowed today that the fight against Israel's offensive in Lebanon was entering a new phase.

Hamas's main leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, spent years building up the militant group's military capabilities. Since Hamas, which the United States government has designated as a terrorist organization, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, Sinwari has been hiding in the underground tunnels of Gaza. On Thursday, Israel announced it had killed Sinwar during an operation in southern Gaza. Israeli officials released a video they say shows his final moments.

I have a simple message for the residents of Gaza: This war can end tomorrow, if Hamas surrenders its weapons and returns the hostages," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared.

The President of the United States, Joe Biden, was on his way to Germany when the news broke. He called Prime Minister Netanyahu to congratulate him on killing Sinwari.

"Now is the time to take steps towards a ceasefire in Gaza. We have to move towards a position from which we can improve the situation for the whole world", declared President Biden.

Israel's military campaign has targeted Hamas leaders but has also killed tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians.

Vice President Kamala Harris also echoed President Biden's call to end the war.

"It must end in such a way that Israel is safe, that the hostages are released, that the suffering in Gaza comes to an end and that the Palestinians live out their rights to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination," she said.

The families of Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas said Sinwar's killing made the need to reach a ceasefire deal more urgent.

"Their lives are now more at risk than ever. We call on the Israeli government and the US administration to act quickly and do whatever it takes to reach an agreement with the hostage takers," said Orna Neutra, the mother of Israeli-American hostage Omer Neutra.

But despite the increased pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu's government, ending the war in Gaza may not be Israel's main goal right now.

"The focus of Israel and the United States is now on Lebanon, because the opportunity has now opened to greatly weaken Hezbollah. This is what all the allies of the United States in the region - Saudi Arabia, Egypt and others - want," says political analyst Jonathan Rynhold from Bar-Ilan University.

Tired of Israel's year-long military campaign, Gazans predict that Sinwar's death will not end the war.

As Israel continues to pursue Hamas militants, United Nations experts say more than 1.8 million people, who make up nearly 90 percent of Gaza's population, are facing starvation.

President Biden's administration warned this week that it may cut off US military aid if Israel fails to respond to humanitarian needs in Gaza.

Humanitarian aid was airdropped into Gaza on Thursday. United Nations officials said that aid has been greatly reduced since Israel resumed its offensive in northern Gaza, completely cutting off the flow of aid to that area./ VOA