Individuals maintain placards as they rejoice the information of the dying of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, in Jerusalem on October 17, 2024. Israel stated on October 17 its forces killed Sinwar, accused of masterminding the October 7, 2023 assault, calling it a “heavy blow” to the Palestinian group it has been preventing for greater than a yr. (AFP)
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE – US President Joe Biden on Thursday hailed Israel’s killing of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar as a “good day” for the world, saying it additionally eliminated a key impediment to a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal.
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee in November’s US election, added that Israel’s killing of the mastermind of the October 7, 2023 assaults was an opportunity to “lastly finish the struggle in Gaza.”
The feedback replicate rising calls in Washington for a ceasefire even because it backs key ally Israel, amid tensions between Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel’s conduct within the battle sparked by Hamas’s assaults.
“It is a good day for Israel, for america, and for the world,” Biden, who was touring to Germany on Air Drive One because the information broke, stated in a written assertion.
Biden stated he would quickly be talking with Netanyahu to “congratulate” him but in addition to “focus on the pathway” for securing the discharge of hostages and “ending this struggle as soon as and for all.”
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“There may be now the chance for a ‘day after’ in Gaza with out Hamas in energy, and for a political settlement that gives a greater future for Israelis and Palestinians alike,” added Biden.
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“Yahya Sinwar was an insurmountable impediment to reaching all of these targets. That impediment not exists. However a lot work stays earlier than us.”
Harris has hinted at a more durable method in direction of Israel if elected president and referred to as for an finish to Palestinian deaths, at the same time as she helps Israel’s proper to defend itself.
“This second provides us a possibility to lastly finish the struggle in Gaza,” she advised reporters after a marketing campaign occasion in Milwaukee.
“And it should finish such that Israel is safe, the hostages are launched, the struggling in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian individuals can notice their proper to dignity, safety, freedom and self-determination,” she stated.
The vice chairman additionally hailed US particular operations and intelligence personnel who “labored intently with their Israeli counterparts to find and observe Sinwar and different Hamas leaders.”
Biden’s Nationwide Safety Advisor Jake Sullivan confused nevertheless that US personnel weren’t concerned within the particular operation that killed Sinwar.
“This operation was an IDF operation,” Sullivan advised reporters touring with Biden on Air Drive One.
Tensions have grown in current months between Biden and Netanyahu because the Israeli chief appeared to disregard a number of US requires de-escalation within the Center East.
The US warned Israel on Tuesday that it might withhold a few of its billions of {dollars} in navy help until it improves help supply to the war-battered Gaza Strip inside 30 days.
Washington additionally stated it opposed the best way Israel was finishing up mass air strikes on Beirut because it targets Hezbollah — which like Hamas is backed by Iran — in Lebanon.
Israel has in the meantime stated it’s going to strike again towards Iran after a current ballistic missile assault. Biden has referred to as on it to not strike Iranian nuclear or oil amenities.
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However Republican US Home Speaker Mike Johnson on Thursday referred to as on Biden to “now work in tandem with Israel to use a most strain marketing campaign towards the top of the snake: Iran.”
