The murder of Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, begs fresh issues for everyone involved in the war, including over the fate of hostages remaining under custody by the terrorist organization. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cautions of a hard road ahead even while the United States is urging both sides to grab the chance to stop the bloodshed.
During a year of discussions, Sinwar was regarded as the biggest roadblock in reaching a hostage settlement and a cease-fire. Netanyahu has come under fire, meantime, for changing the objectives of negotiations and giving the military campaign to eradicate Hamas top priority over diplomacy meant to release hostages priority.
Since they were taken from Israel on October 7, 2023, around 100 hostages still under custody in Hamas. With their remains used as bargaining chips by Hamas to demand the pullout of Israeli forces from Gaza and free Palestinian captives from Israeli prisons, several are thought to have been assassinated.
Emphasizing the possibility for a “day after” in Gaza devoid of Hamas in control, U.S. President Joe Biden and Democratic presidential hopeful Kamala Harris responded to Sinwar’s passing. Speaking from Wisconsin, Harris declared:
“This moment allows us to end the war in Gaza finally, and it must end such that Israel is secure, the hostage are released, the suffering in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people may realize their right to dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination.”
Nonetheless, Netanyahu’s official speech attesting to Sinwar’s passing revealed no intention of stopping Israel’s military activities. Although Israel’s operations have seriously undermined Hamas’s military might and leadership, they have also resulted in a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza with tens of thousands of Palestinians dead.
In his address, Netanyahu stated:
“Now everyone in Israel and the world understands why we insisted on not calling off the war, why we persisted in the face of overwhelming pressure. Though it is not yet over, the war exacting a great cost on us remains relentless. Israeli people are in the war of resurrection. Still great obstacles lie ahead of us; united, we will battle and, guided by God, we will triumph.”
Anyone who releases hostages—including members of Hamas and other armed groups like Palestinian Islamic Jihad—also gets amnesty from Netanyahu. Release of the hostages, he said, might help the battle to finish sooner.
The Biden government is developing a future plan for Gaza that calls for a Palestinian civil government and an Arab security force spanning many countries. Netanyahu has neither supported these concepts nor presented a specific plan for Gaza’s post-war governance, nevertheless.
On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken contacted officials in Qatar and Saudi Arabia in an attempt to resolve the crisis and guarantee hostages release. With prominent Hamas political figure in exile in Qatar Khaled Meshaal touted as a possible leader, there is now a clear doubt over who will represent the organization in next negotiations. Meshaal has promised that despite the obstacles Hamas will “rise like a phoenix,” which lends mystery to the matter.
Speaking for the State Department, Matthew Miller said:
“We don’t know who will be on the other end of the negotiating table now, but it certainly won’t be Sinwar.”
Political rivals of Netanyahu even support the ongoing military operation against Hamas. Former member of Netanyahu’s wartime Cabinet and National Unity Party chair Benny Gantz claimed the IDF will most likely have to stay in Gaza for years. Gantz, however, underlined the need of using this opportunity to guarantee the release of hostages and topple Hamas, therefore inspiring the viewers.
Families of hostages kept by Hamas are advocating diplomatic initiatives. Parents of Israeli-American soldier Omer Neutra, Orna and Ronen Neutra asked for fresh talks to release their son, who turned 23 in captivity on October 13. Their remarks included:
“Sinwar, said to be a key deal-obstacle, is dead now. Now all of our efforts should be on reaching the objective of an agreement guaranteeing the release of our son Omer and the remaining hostages.”
They pushed the governments of Israel and the United States to move quickly in order to negotiate a solution. With exception from the release of the captives, the Neutras underlined that the main goals of the war have been fulfilled.
Congressmen from the United States also responded to Sinwar’s passing, hoping for further development in negotiations. R-Ohio Representative Mike Turner said:
“I hope that Sinwar’s death will lead to a cease-fire for Palestinians who have suffered under Hamas’s grip for far too long as well as additional advancement toward the release of all hostages still held in Gaza.”
Additionally showing hope was Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), saying:
“Let us all unite in praying that, at last, the door will open to the end of this terrible war, the remaining hostages will be released, the recovery in Gaza will start, and the attempts toward securing peace will be renewed.”
