Biden says chance for ‘day after’ in Gaza without Hamas possible after Sinwar’s death
US President Joe Biden said Thursday that there was an opportunity to end the Gaza war and for a “day after” without Hamas in power after the killing of Yahya Sinwar.
Biden released a statement after Israel said Thursday its forces killed the Hamas chief in a Gaza operation.
“This is a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world,” Biden said.
US President Joe Biden says there is now an opportunity to end the Gaza war and for a “day after” without Hamas in power after the killing of Yahya Sinwar.
Biden said after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, he directed Special Operations personnel and intelligence personnel to work side-by-side with their Israeli counterparts to help locate and track Sinwar and other Hamas leaders hiding in Gaza.
The president said there has rarely been a military campaign like the current one in Gaza with the tunnels and other infrastructure used by Hamas. “Today, however, proves once again that no terrorists anywhere in the world can escape justice, no matter how long it takes,” Biden said.
The Pentagon chief, Lloyd Austin, spoke with his Israeli counterpart about Sinwar’s killing on Thursday. Austin reaffirmed US support for Israel’s right to defend itself and reiterated that the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) represents the United States’ unwavering, enduring, and ironclad commitment to Israel’s security.
“The Secretary also expressed strong support for the immediate release of all remaining hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza,” Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said.
Moving forward
Biden lauded the Israeli military campaign to eliminate the leadership and military structure of Hamas. He said he would soon speak to Israel’s embattled prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and other Israeli leaders to congratulate them.
But he said he would also discuss the “pathway for bringing the hostages home to their families, and for ending this war once and for all, which has caused so much devastation to innocent people.”
Analysts and officials interpreted this as signaling from Biden that it was time to end the Israeli military campaign in Gaza.
“There is now the opportunity for a ‘day after’ in Gaza without Hamas in power, and for a political settlement that provides a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike,” he said, adding that Sinwar was an “insurmountable obstacle” to achieving all of those goals.
“That obstacle no longer exists. But much work remains before us,” Biden said.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US would redouble efforts to end Gaza war in the coming days and “chart a new path forward that will enable the people of Gaza to rebuild their lives and realize their aspirations free from war and free from the brutal grip of Hamas.”
