Blinken Affirms US Not Involved In Murder Of Hamas Leader Haniyeh

JAKARTA - United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken said his country was not involved in the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. The US reiterated the importance of a ceasefire in Gaza.

"This is something we are not aware of or involved in. It's very difficult to speculate," Blinken said in an interview with Channel News Asia during a visit to Singapore.

Iranian Revolutionary Guards confirmed Haniyeh's death, hours after he attended the inauguration ceremony of the country's new president.

Haniyeh, who leads a Palestinian militant group and is usually based in Qatar, became the face of Hamas' international diplomacy when the war sparked by Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023 had been raging in Gaza.

"I have learned for years to never speculate about the impact of an event on another event," Blinken said when asked what was the impact Haniyeh's death on war.

The killing of the Hamas leader was less than 24 hours after Israel claimed to have killed a Hezbollah commander who is said to be behind a deadly attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

This event could be a major setback for the chances of a ceasefire agreement in a war that has lasted 10 months.

Blinken, who has been in Asia since last weekend, said the ceasefire and release of hostages detained in Gaza were critical and the United States would do everything it could to make it happen.

"It is very important to hope that things are on a better path for a more lasting and more lasting security peace, so that focus remains on being there," he said.