United States President Joe Biden and his Vice President Kamala Harris announced on Thursday that the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar opened up a way for the return of Israeli hostages and a probable end to the Gaza war.  Sinwar was one of the masterminds behind the deadly October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel; he was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, marking one of the significant turning points in the ongoing conflict.

What Happened?

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed in a chance encounter with Israeli troops patrolling the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday.  Sinwar evaded capture for over a year, hiding in underground tunnels.  Near Rafah, Israeli forces met him on Wednesday.  The three men the troops were engaging in a firefight did not turn out to be known militants, but later, Israeli soldiers realised that they had actually caught one of the group leaders, Yahya Sinwar, responsible for Hamas’s military operations.  

Israel forces identified one of the victims as Sinwar when they viewed the bodies the next day.  DNA tests later confirmed him when part of his finger was sent to Israel for analysis.  The killing of Sinwar marks a turning point in Israel’s campaign against Hamas, even though hostilities in Gaza are continuing.

Reaction from U.S Leaders 

Speaking to the press after a phone talk with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden was optimistic about a ceasefire in Gaza in the wake of Sinwar’s killing.  “It’s time for this war to end and bring these hostages home,” Biden said, pointing out that perhaps it was the moment of truth to the peace process.  He confirmed that his top diplomat, Antony Blinken, will be leaving for Israel within days to discuss post-war arrangements over Gaza.

The Biden administration has experienced months of stalemate in ceasefire negotiations, and Sinwar was a significant impediment to progress.  Now out of the way, U.S. officials have hopes that this will restart diplomatic efforts aimed at securing the release of more than 250 Israeli hostages taken hostage in Gaza and making a push toward a ceasefire.

Israel’s Response 

In fact, after talking to the American president, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu made it clear that the war won’t end.  His office said that in a phone talk with Netanyahu, the two leaders discussed the opportunity created by the death of Sinwar to push Hamas to release the hostages.  Netanyahu reiterates that Israel’s security issues remain paramount, and Hamas is never going to get back control over Gaza.

Vice President Kamala Harris told voters at a Milwaukee campaign event that the moment is “an opportunity to finally end the war in Gaza.”

A Potential Turning Point for Ceasefire Talks

The killing of Sinwar, who has been blamed for years by Washington for stalling talks aimed at establishing a ceasefire, represents a significant milestone.  Still, it is unclear how quickly those talks can resume.  The private reservations of the Biden administration regarding Netanyahu’s commitment to a ceasefire deal notwithstanding, the removal of Sinwar has opened up possibilities for renewed progress.

The always on-again, off-again Gaza conflict has given President Biden yet another political headache to contend with before the next U.S. elections.  His administration remains under a cacophony of criticisms by almost every group about the military aid it is providing to Israel.  The heat is mounting on Harris from Arab American, Muslim, and liberal voters who hate the way his administration is siding with Israel in this fight.

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

From the opening day of the war in Gaza, Israeli air bombardments have killed more than 42,000 people, local health officials claimed, displacing much of the 2.3 million population from that tiny Strip of Land.  The humanitarian crisis, complete with severe food shortages, continues to worsen.  The conflict had been confirmed to have already killed over 2,000 in Lebanon, where Israel was battling against Iran-backed Hezbollah militants.

Diplomatic Efforts 

The Biden administration is now looking to cash in on Sinwar’s death to quicken the speed of the efforts at ceasefire.  Secretary of State Antony Blinken is already in talks with key regional leaders, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, to work out post-war arrangements for Gaza as well as negotiating hostage releases.  National security adviser Jake Sullivan said that the U.S. would strive to make sure that Sinwar’s death had long-term damage for Hamas.

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