US President Joe Biden has stated that the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh “doesn’t help” ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Gaza.
Haniyeh was killed on Wednesday during a visit to Tehran.
While Iran and its allies have accused Israel of the killing, Israel has not yet commented on the incident.
Haniyeh, a key figure in Hamas and a central player in ceasefire and hostage release talks from his base in Qatar, was instrumental in negotiations aimed at ending the conflict. Biden expressed deep concern about the escalating tensions in the Middle East, urging both sides to seize the opportunity for a ceasefire. “We have the basis for a ceasefire. [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] should move on it and [Hamas] should move on it now,” he said.
Recent indirect talks between Israel and Hamas aimed at reaching a ceasefire have faced obstacles, with both sides accusing each other of hindering progress.
Hamas claimed that Israel introduced new conditions, while Netanyahu’s office reported that Hamas demanded numerous changes to the ceasefire proposal.
The conflict began in October when Hamas launched a major attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
This led to a significant Israeli military response, resulting in over 39,480 Palestinian casualties in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Biden’s remarks were his first on Haniyeh’s assassination.
Speaking at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, where he was preparing to welcome American citizens as part of a prisoner exchange with Russia, Biden also mentioned his recent conversation with Netanyahu.
He assured that the US would protect Israel “against all threats from Iran,” which has vowed retaliation. Iran, a key backer of Hamas and a staunch opponent of Israel, has been a focal point in the region’s tensions.
Following Haniyeh’s death, Netanyahu claimed that Israel had delivered “crushing blows” to Iran’s proxy groups.
The assassination occurred amid heightened regional tensions, including the recent killing of 12 children in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, for which Israel has blamed Hezbollah.
Hezbollah has denied involvement, and Israel retaliated by targeting senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in a recent air strike in Beirut.
