US Secretary of State seeks to build on Hamas leader’s death to advance negotiations and ease civilian suffering.

JERUSALEM – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday (Oct 22), urging him to leverage the recent killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to push for a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of hostages captured during the October 7 attack.

During their two-and-a-half-hour meeting in Jerusalem, Blinken emphasized the importance of increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza, highlighting the dire needs of Palestinian civilians amid the ongoing conflict. According to a US State Department spokesperson, the talks also touched on strategies to prevent further regional escalation.

This visit marks yet another effort by Blinken to mediate peace in the Middle East. However, with