US says will redouble efforts to end Gaza war after Sinwar’s death

CAIRO – 18 October 2024: Matthew Miller, the Spokesperson for the US Department of State, announced that the United States is set to "redouble" its endeavors to terminate the war in Gaza and secure the safe return of captives.

He made the remarks after the Israeli military confirmed killing Hamas leader Yahya Al-Sinwar in Gaza on Thursday.

During a press briefing on Thursday, Miller identified Sinwar as the "chief obstacle" to brokering a ceasefire since the commencement of the Israeli war in Gaza on 7 October, 2023, labeling Sinwar's demise as a "a seismic event."

"I don’t want to predict too much what our efforts will look like over the course of the days because we are just hours after what is a seismic event that changes the nature of this conflict," remarked Miller.

He stated that the US will actively advance its proposition for a ceasefire, which has been on the table in recent times.

"We believe it is an opportunity to try and bring an end to this war, and we’re determined to try and seize that opportunity."

The Israeli military, in a statement, declared the termination of Sinwar and two others after a year-long pursuit, saying the operation was executed following intelligence pointing to the suspected whereabouts of senior Hamas figures.

Since the start of the Gaza war, Israeli forces have killed 42,438 Palestinians, injured 99,246 others, devastated vital infrastructure and pushed the enclave toward the brink of famine.

GLOBAL RESPONSES

US President Joe Biden described the killing of Hamas leader as a “good day for Israel, for the United States and for the world.”

“To my Israeli friends, this is no doubt a day of relief and reminiscence, similar to the scenes witnessed throughout the United States after President Obama ordered the raid to kill Osama Bin Laden in 2011,” Biden stated in an official White House statement.

The US president blamed Sinwar for the deaths of thousands of Israelis, Palestinians, Americans, and citizens from over 30 countries.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sinwar’s death is an “important landmark” but stressed that the war in Gaza has not yet ended and that Hamas will no longer rule Gaza.

Meanwhile, Iran’s mission to the United Nations said the final moments of Sinwar will be “a model for the youth and children who will carry forward his path towards the liberation of Palestine.”

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock described Sinwar as “a cruel murderer and a terrorist,” saying Hamas should “lay down its arms” and “release all the hostages immediately.”

France’s President Emmanuel Macron blamed Sinwar for the October 7 operation by Hamas against Israel, reiterated his country’s call for the release of all captives still held in Gaza.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the death of Sinwar allows a “new phase” that includes a ceasefire and reconstruction in Gaza as well as the release of captives held by Hamas.

United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his country “will not mourn” Sinwar’s death, calling for the release of captives, immediate ceasefire and surge in humanitarian aid to Gaza, to set the stage for sustainable peace in the Middle East.