Netanyahu: The war, my dear ones, is not yet over Dashing peace hopes

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's commitment to intensifying military operations in Gaza and Lebanon has dampened hopes that the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar could pave the way for peace after over a year of escalating conflict in the Middle East.

In response to Sinwar's death, Lebanese militant group Hezbollah pledged to escalate hostilities against Israel, while Iran asserted that "the spirit of resistance" would be bolstered by the loss of its Palestinian ally in Gaza, Caliber.Az reports via Reuters.

Sinwar, who was a key architect of the October 7, 2023, attack that ignited the current Gaza war, was killed in an Israeli military operation in the Palestinian enclave on Wednesday, marking a significant moment in the ongoing conflict.

Describing Sinwar's death as a milestone, Netanyahu insisted on late October 17 that the war would persist, emphasizing that fighting would continue until Hamas released hostages. “The war, my dear ones, is not yet over,” he told Israelis, asserting, “We have before us a great opportunity to stop the axis of evil and create a different future,” referring to Iran and its militant affiliates across the region.

In stark contrast to Netanyahu's stance, Western leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, suggested that Sinwar's death could provide an opening for de-escalation. The U.S. is eager to revive ceasefire negotiations and facilitate the release of hostages, as U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller noted that Sinwar had previously obstructed talks. “That obstacle has obviously been removed. We can’t predict if whoever replaces him will agree to a ceasefire, but it does remove what has been in recent months the chief obstacle to getting one,” Miller stated.

A senior diplomat in Lebanon expressed scepticism that Sinwar's killing would lead to an end to hostilities. “We had hoped that getting rid of Sinwar would be the turning point where the wars would end ... where everyone would be ready to put their weapons down. It appears we were once again mistaken,” the diplomat remarked.

Despite months of U.S. efforts to broker ceasefires with Hamas and Hezbollah, Israel has continued its military operations, while Iran has struggled to counter Israel's military capabilities, which are bolstered by U.S. support. The conflict has also witnessed direct confrontations between Iranian and Israeli forces, including missile attacks on Israel in April and October.

Netanyahu has vowed to retaliate for the October attack, which caused minimal damage, while Washington has urged Israel to be cautious in its targeting, specifically avoiding Iranian energy and nuclear facilities.

By Tamilla Hasanova