Blinken urges Sinwar to reach an agreement with Israel to halt Gaza war
Israel vows to eliminate Yahya Sinwar as Hezbollah welcomes his appointment as Haniyeh's successor.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Tuesday that the new head of the Hamas political bureau, Yahya Sinwar, must decide on a ceasefire in Gaza with Israel, while Israeli authorities have pledged to eliminate him.
Blinken stated that “Sinwar has always been and remains the main decision-maker regarding the establishment of a ceasefire” in the Palestinian territory, after Hamas announced the appointment of its Gaza leader, one of Israel’s most wanted men, as head of its political bureau, replacing Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated a week ago in Tehran in an attack that heightened fears of military escalation in the Middle East.
He added that “work on the agreement has continued despite recent events in the region, and negotiations have reached their final stage. We strongly believe they will be concluded very soon.”
Blinken‘s remarks about the progress of the negotiations come despite the obstacles posed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to derail the agreement, as it would end his political career.
Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz said on Tuesday that Hamas‘s choice of Yahya Sinwar is a compelling reason “to eliminate him quickly.”
In a post on the platform (X), he wrote that “his appointment as the new leader of Hamas, replacing Ismail Haniyeh, is another compelling reason to eliminate him quickly and wipe out this evil organization from the face of the earth.”
Hamas leader Osama Hamdan said in an interview that the choice of Sinwar to lead the movement was unanimous, following rumors of internal disagreements between leaders inside and outside Gaza.
He emphasized that the new leader of the movement will have a team to assist him and that he has climbed several ranks and possesses the necessary qualifications to lead the movement.
For its part, Hezbollah congratulated Sinwar on Tuesday evening, saying in a statement that it “congratulates the beloved brother and fighter, Haj Yahya Sinwar, and his brothers at the head of Hamas and all the fighters of the Al-Qassam Brigades, on his unanimous selection and election as head of the Hamas political bureau.”
The statement adds that this decision proves that “the enemy’s goals of killing leaders and officials have failed to achieve their objective.”
The Lebanese Shiite party considers that Sinwar’s appointment sends “a strong message to the Zionist enemy and its allies, including the United States, that Hamas is united in its decisions, solid in its principles, steadfast in its major choices, and determined to pursue resistance, no matter the cost.”
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The statement adds that “the axis of resistance,” supported by Iran and of which the Shiite party is the main component, “is waging a heroic and historic battle on multiple fronts, at a crucial time for the region, in support of the oppressed Palestinian people.”
It emphasizes that “the election of the new head of the Hamas political bureau at this crucial time and in the heart of the battle strengthens our nation’s and our people’s faith and determination to unite their efforts and continue the resistance until complete liberation.”
