The US knew nothing about Hanija's murder
The USA are Israel's closest allies. Following the killing of Hamas leader Haniyeh, which Tel Aviv is blamed for, the question arises: What did the White House know about it? Nothing, insists Secretary of State Blinken. Washington's top diplomat is as concerned as Qatar about the peace talks.
According to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the US had "no knowledge" of the killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh beforehand. The US was "not involved" in the killing, Blinken said, according to a transcript of an interview with News Asia in Singapore shared by his staff. At an event in Singapore, Blinken reiterated that a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is now "imperative".
Radical Islamic Hamas and Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Haniyeh was killed in a Israeli attack in Tehran. The Israeli army declined to comment on reports of Haniyeh's death.
Blinken said a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is important to achieve a "better state" and prevent the conflict from spreading in the region. The US has been "working towards this since day one".
Qatar calls it "political assassination by a party"
The main mediator in the conflict, Qatar, has now called into question talks on a ceasefire after Haniyeh's killing. "Political assassinations and repeated attacks on civilians in the Gaza Strip during talks raise questions about how one can successfully mediate when one party assassinates the mediator on the other side," Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani wrote on X. "Peace needs serious partners and a global stance against the disregard for human life."
Talks on a ceasefire and prisoner exchange, most recently in Rome on Sunday, have been slow for months. Qatar, Egypt, and the US have been mediating between Israel and the Islamic Hamas. With Haniyeh's death, it's completely unclear whether and how these talks will continue.
The fighting between the Israeli army and Hamas in the Gaza Strip was triggered by the unprecedented attack by Islamists on Israel on October 7. Israel has been conducting massive military operations in the Gaza Strip since the attack. Additionally, the Israeli military is almost daily engaged in clashes with the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon. The Houthi militia in Yemen also attacked Israel in July.
The Commission, referring to the International Commission of Inquiry established by the Human Rights Council, expressed concerns over the alleged extrajudicial execution of Hamas leader Haniyeh and called for a thorough investigation into the incident. The Commission urged all parties involved in the conflict, including the USA and Israel, to cooperate fully with the inquiry to ensure accountability and promote peace in the region.
