Aftermath of Yahya Sinwar’s Death: A New Phase in the Middle East Conflict
Following the assassination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza on Thursday, US presidential candidate Kamala Harris declared it was time for the “day after to begin” in the Middle East. However, the day after his demise revealed little indication that immediate hostilities would cease, as both Israel and Hamas, alongside Hezbollah, intensified their conflicting demands.
In the wake of the Israeli military’s confirmation of Sinwar’s death, international leaders, spearheaded by US President Joe Biden, suggested that this development could facilitate progress in ceasefire negotiations. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that Sinwar, widely viewed as the chief architect behind the horrific terrorist attacks on October 7, posed a significant barrier to negotiations between Israel and Hamas. He stated, āOn multiple occasions over the past months, Sinwar rebuffed efforts by the United States and its partners to bring this war to a close through an agreement that would return the hostages to their families and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.ā
Despite these sentiments, Israel has not indicated a willingness to engage in negotiations with Hamas or its Iran-backed ally, Hezbollah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the families of hostages on Thursday, describing it as an “important moment” for the safe return of hostages, and added that those who assist in the process would be permitted to leave Gaza. However, he notably avoided detailing how Israel would meet Hamas’s principal demand for a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu further asserted that the war was far from over, declaring, āThe task before us is not yet complete.ā In a show of military readiness, the Israeli military called up an additional reserve brigade in northern Israel on Thursday, signaling its intent to continue ground incursions into southern Lebanon while simultaneously intensifying bombardments in the suburbs of Beirut.
Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran’s Response
Senior Hamas official Khalil Al Hayya, who previously served as the chief negotiator for Hamas during ceasefire discussions, offered little optimism regarding the group’s willingness to compromise on their ceasefire demands. In a televised address, Al Hayya reaffirmed the fundamental demands of Hamas: a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
Hezbollah, responding to the developments, indicated that Sinwar’s death would lead to āthe transition to a new and escalating phase in the confrontation with Israel.ā On Friday, the group issued a statement claiming that their fighters had employed new types of precision-guided missiles and explosive drones against Israeli targets in recent days. Notably, one of these attacks struck a military training camp in Israel last Sunday, resulting in four fatalities. Hezbollah also announced that preparations were underway to engage with Israeli troops in southern Lebanon and reported multiple missile and artillery strikes on Israeli forces along the border overnight.
Iran, which launched an attack on Israel two weeks prior, described Sinwar as an “inspiration” and vowed to remember him as such. In response to Iran’s previous aggression, Israel has threatened retaliation; however, it has compromised by stating it would avoid targeting military or nuclear installations within Iran, following a warning from President Biden to Netanyahu that the US would not endorse such strikes.
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