On October 17, US President Joe Biden praised Israel for its successful operation that killed Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader believed to have orchestrated the October 7, 2023, attacks against Israel. Biden hailed the killing as a “good day for the world” and emphasized that Sinwar’s death could pave the way for a ceasefire in Gaza and a deal to release hostages. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for the upcoming presidential election, echoed Biden’s sentiment, saying the event represented an opportunity to “finally end the war in Gaza.”
Biden, speaking while en route to Germany aboard Air Force One, described Sinwar as an “insurmountable obstacle” to peace in the Middle East. “That obstacle no longer exists,” Biden declared, though he added that “much work remains before us” in achieving peace in the region. His statement underscores the Biden administration’s balancing act of supporting Israel, a key US ally, while advocating for de-escalation and a ceasefire in the region.
The US president also noted that he had congratulated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the operation, adding that Sinwar had “a lot of blood on his hands” from Hamas’s recent attacks. These attacks sparked the latest escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas, resulting in thousands of deaths and widespread destruction in Gaza.
However, Biden’s administration has repeatedly called for caution in Israel’s response to Hamas, particularly as Israeli airstrikes have intensified in both........