U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored the critical importance of achieving a ceasefire in Gaza after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran on July 31.
Speaking during an official visit to Singapore as part of a six-country tour of Asia, Blinken stated that “nothing should take away from the importance of getting to the ceasefire” in Gaza. When asked about the potential impact of Haniyeh’s death on Middle East tensions, Blinken declined to speculate.
Haniyeh was a prominent figure in Hamas’s international diplomacy amid the conflict sparked by the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7.
The assassination occurs as Israel’s campaign in Gaza nears its tenth month, with no resolution in sight. Efforts to broker a ceasefire by Egypt and Qatar have seemingly stalled, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
