United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken denied any involvement in the killing of Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, saying, “This is something we were not aware of or involved in.”
In an interview with Channel News Asia in Singapore, Blinken emphasized the importance of a ceasefire, stating, “I can’t tell you what this means. I can tell you that the imperative of getting a ceasefire, the importance that that has for everyone, remains.”
Blinken reiterated the US position, saying, “A Gaza ceasefire was manifestly in the interests of the Israeli hostages and Gazans who have been caught in this crossfire of Hamas’s making.”
He also stressed the need for a ceasefire to prevent the conflict from spreading to other regions, saying, “We’ve been working from day one not only to try to get to a better place in Gaza but also to prevent the conflict from spreading… A big key to trying to make sure that that doesn’t happen… is getting the ceasefire.”
Hamas has vowed to retaliate for Haniyeh’s killing, saying it “will not go unanswered.” Qatar, a key mediator in truce talks, has questioned the future of negotiations following the assassination.
The killing of Haniyeh has raised concerns about the prospects for a ceasefire and the release of hostages held in Gaza. Blinken’s comments come as the US continues to push for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
