Biden, Harris push for end to Gaza war after Hamas leader Sinwar's death

WASHINGTON ? The Biden administration seized on Thursday's death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as an opportunity to revive talks between Israel and Hamas for a long-discussed temporary cease-fire and push for an end of the war in the Middle East.

Yet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – despite expressing new optimism about a hostage deal – gave no indication he plans to ease Israel's military assault in Gaza, saying that while "evil took a heavy blow" with Sinwar's death, "the task before us is still not complete."

President Joe Biden, after landing on Air Force One in Germany, told reporters he spoke to Netanyahu to congratulate him on killing Sinwar, who is regarded as the mastermind behind the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed 1,200 and ignited a brutal, year-long war.

"Now is the time to move on. Move on. Move toward a cease-fire in Gaza," Biden said, recounting what he told Netanyahu. "It's time for this war to end and bring these hostages home. So that's what we're ready to do."

More: Israel says it killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar

Biden said he plans to send Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Israel in the coming days.

“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,” Biden said in a written statement earlier in the day.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, told reporters Sinwar's death "gives us an opportunity to finally end the war in Gaza."

Sinwar's death in battle in Gaza was confirmed by Israel and the U.S. The 61-year-old Sinwar was Hamas' top leader in Gaza for years and assumed control of the group’s political bureau after the previous leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in a July bombing in Tehran that was attributed to Israel.

Threats of a wider Middle East conflict following Israeli attacks in Lebanon and Iranian missile strikes in Israel have stymied progress on a cease-fire deal that would halt fighting and allow for the release of Israeli and American hostages in Gaza.

In the call between Netanyahu and Biden, "both leaders agreed that there is an opportunity to advance the release of the hostages and that they would work together to achieve this objective," Netanyahu's office said.

In a recorded statement earlier, Netanyahu directed some of his remarks to residents in Gaza, calling it "the beginning of the day after Hamas" and declaring "Hamas will no longer rule Gaza." He urged Gaza residents to finally free themselves from the "tyranny" of Hamas' rule. He said Israel would not harm any Hamas fighter who "lays down his weapon and returns our hostages."

But Netanyahu did not discuss a path for the war to end: "In the same way, I say, whoever harms our hostages, blood on his head, we will reckon with him," he said, vowing to continue until all the remaining Israeli hostages are returned.

"The war is not over yet," Netanyahu said.

More: Negotiators around the world can't secure a Gaza cease-fire. These moms want to get it done.

In addition to the 1,200 killed on Oct. 7, Hamas kidnapped 251 people from Israel – 101 of whom are still missing, including seven Americans believed to be alive.

The attacks resulted in Israel launching a war in Gaza, meant to wipe out Hamas, that has now killed more than 42,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

Jake Sullivan, White House national security adviser, said the death of Sinwar – seen as a roadblock toward a deal between Israel and Hamas – presents an opportunity to find a way to bring the hostages home and end the war.

“At various points along the way, Sinwar was more interested in causing mayhem and chaos and death than actually trying to achieve a ceasefire and hostage deal,” Sullivan said. “We repeatedly saw a moment where it was him, in particular, who stood in the way of making progress towards the ceasefire-hostage deal.”

Harris took a brief detour from the campaign trail to address Sinwar's death before holding a rally in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

More: Negotiators around the world can't secure a Gaza cease-fire. These moms want to get it done.

Harris said an end of the Gaza war must ensure "Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination."

"Israel has a right to defend itself, and the threat Hamas poses to Israel must be eliminated today. There is clear progress toward that goal," she said.

Contributing: Michael Collins and Kim Hjelmgaard. Reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly Twitter, @joeygarrison.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden, Harris push Gaza war to end after Hamas leader Sinwar's death