President Joe Biden said Thursday that the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar by Israeli troops is a "good day for the world," calling it an opportunity to free hostages held by the militant group and end the yearlong war in Gaza .
"Now's the time to move on. ... Move toward a cease-fire in Gaza, make sure that we move in a direction that we're able to make things better for the whole world," Biden told reporters as he arrived in Berlin for a short visit . "It's time for this war to end and bring these hostages home. That's what we're ready to do."
U.S. officials expressed such measured optimism that the killing of a militant characterized by national security adviser Jake Sullivan as a "massive obstacle to peace" might breathe new life into cease-fire talks that have failed to produce a breakthrough for months despite periodic signs of progress.
"Over the past few weeks, there have been no negotiations for an end to the war because Sinwar has refused to negotiate," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters. "We now see an opportunity with him having been removed from the battlefield, being removed from the leadership of Hamas, and we want to seize that opportunity."
Biden spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to congratulate him on the mission that killed Sinwar. They also discussed "how to use this moment to bring the hostages home and to bring the war to a close with Israel's security assured and Hamas never again able to control Gaza," according to a White House summary of the call.
