U.S. urges peace after Israel kills Hamas leader

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Friday said that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s death presented an opportunity for a cease-fire in Gaza. Hamas hostage-takers must release some 101 people still thought to be held in Gaza, he said. The Israeli hostages should not endure one more hour of captivity after going through hell, Austin said. The defense secretary urged peace in the greater region and said U.S. officials were pushing hard to bring about an end to the conflict.

An Israeli strike killed Sinwar in Gaza on Thursday. Israeli soldiers confirmed his identity through a DNA test. The Israeli military also released drone footage later in the day that it said showed Sinwar moments before the strike.

What does Israel have to say about ending the war? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday the war in Gaza would end the moment Hamas returned Israel’s hostages and laid down its weapons. But Netanyahu also promised that Israel would continue to fight—and win—its larger war against Iran-supported militias that have harassed Israel and the rest of the region. Netanyahu on Thursday again did not say how or when Israel would respond to Iran’s recent missile attack.

Dig deeper: Read my report in The Sift about how the United States has deployed more naval forces to the Middle East following Iran’s recent attack on Israel.