US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged top Israeli officials to capitalize Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s killing in order to secure the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza and bring the Gaza war to a close, report agencies.
Mentioning the killing of Sinwar as an “important opportunity” towards ending the war, he shared his thought with Israel’s leadership on Tuesday.
“I believe very much that the death of Sinwar does create an important opportunity to bring the hostages home, to bring the war to an end and to ensure Israel’s security,” Blinken said as he met Israeli President Isaac Herzog following talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Blinken also met with families of hostages who are still held in Gaza since the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas sparked the war.
Herzog, who holds a largely ceremonial role, agreed that Israel's killing of Sinwar could change the dynamic.
“Following the killing of Sinwar and the other circumstances that have evolved, there is a unique opportunity to make a special effort to employ all tools necessary and possible to move forward and bring the hostages back home,” Herzog said.
Bd-Pratidin English/ Afsar Munna
