SINGAPORE: On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the United States was “not aware of or involved in” the killing of Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran.
Blinken emphasized the critical need for a ceasefire, highlighting its significance for all parties involved. According to a transcript from his interview with Channel News Asia in Singapore, Blinken stressed that achieving a ceasefire is crucial for addressing the crisis in Gaza and for the hostages and civilians affected by the ongoing conflict.
Hamas reported that Haniyeh was killed by an Israeli airstrike while attending Iran’s new president’s inauguration.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has vowed to eradicate Hamas in response to their October 7 attack, which ignited the Gaza war.
As Israel’s main military ally, Washington has been advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza. Blinken underscored that a ceasefire is essential not only for resolving the immediate conflict but also for preventing its expansion to other regions.
During his visit to Singapore, Blinken explained that efforts are focused on improving the situation in Gaza and avoiding the spread of conflict to neighboring areas like Lebanon, the Red Sea, and beyond.
Following the assassination of Haniyeh, Qatar, a key mediator in the ceasefire talks and host to Hamas’s leadership, has expressed concerns about the future of negotiations.
