US top official suggests how Gaza peace deal can be achieved now
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed Washington’s commitment to bringing home Israeli captives, ending the war, and alleviating Palestinian suffering.
The recent death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Rafah presents an opportunity for progress, as Blinken believes Sinwar was the biggest obstacle to reaching an agreement.
“The reason I believe there is opportunity now is that I believe the biggest obstacle to concluding that agreement was Sinwar and the fact that he is no longer with us perhaps creates an opening for actually moving forward and concluding the agreement,” he said about Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in Rafah last week.
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“In our judgement, one of the things that Sinwar was looking at and hoping for was the potential for wider conflict. If he could create a multi-front war with Hezbollah attacking Israel, potentially Iran attacking Israel, then he could just sit back and wait and not make any decisions on a ceasefire.”
Blinken said Sinwar “has now been removed from the equation” which could allow Hamas to refocus and sign an initial agreement, as a base for a “sustainable” ceasefire to come later.
Sinwar, who was earlier killed by the Israeli forces, was appointed by Hamas in August to succeed Ismail Haniyeh as political chief at-large, following Haniyeh’s assassination.
His leadership is seen as a symbol of defiance against the Israeli government, given his central role in Hamas’ activities in Gaza.
