The Palestinian militant group Hamas chose Yahya Sinwar , its top official in Gaza who masterminded the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, as its new leader. The group's political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed July 31 in Iran by a presumed Israeli strike.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken responded to the decision by saying Sinwar has the power to ensure that a cease-fire deal is reached for the Israel-Hamas war .
U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Tuesday about their hopes of a cease-fire and hostage release deal calming tensions in the Middle East, which soared after the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah confirmed that Israel killed a top commander after a rare strike in Beirut, as well as Haniyeh's killing. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet over the weekend that Israel is already in a "multi-front war" with Iran and its proxies .
Inside Gaza, the only corridor for humanitarian aid to enter the south has been shut down because of fighting in the area. The Palestinian territory faces a severe humanitarian crisis as its Health Ministry says the death toll in the enclave is nearing 40,000.
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