US President Joe Biden has congratulated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Israel’s killing of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the October 7, 2023, attack that triggered a yearlong war and introduced new tensions between the leaders, Report informs via The Hill.
In remarks to reporters upon landing in Berlin, Biden said he felt hopeful about a cease-fire in Gaza and that the war will end “soon.” He added that he’s dispatching Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Israel for talks.
“Now is the time to move on. Move on, move toward to a cease-fire in Gaza, make sure that we move in a direction that we’re going to be in a position to make things better for the whole world,” the president said.
“It’s time for this war to end and bring these hostages home. So that’s what we’re ready to do. And I’m sending Tony Blinken to Israel. … I talked with Bibi about that. We’re going to work out what, what is the day after now. How do we secure Gaza and move on,” he said, referring to Netanyahu.
Biden made the call to Netanyahu while traveling aboard Air Force One to Germany. A readout provided by the White House said the two leaders discussed how to use this moment to advance the release of 101 hostages kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 who are still being held in the Gaza Strip “and to bring the war to a close with Israel’s security assured and Hamas never again able to control Gaza.”
“They agreed to remain in close contact over the coming days both directly and through their national security teams,” the White House said.