Use 'moment of justice' as a path to peace, Israelis told

After Hamas leader's killing, Biden and Starmer urge action from Netanyahu, while Hezbollah vows new phase of conflict

- ANDY GREGORY

Joe Biden has told Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to use the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as an "opportunity to seek a path to peace" in Gaza.

The US president - who is Mr Netanyahu's closest international ally described the assassination of Israel's most wanted man as "a moment of justice" which raises the prospect of a deal to agree on a ceasefire and the return of the hostages still held in Gaza, as their families issued fresh demands for a release deal.

Mr Biden, speaking from Berlin where he was meeting German chancellor Olaf Scholz yesterday, said: "I told the prime minister of Israel yesterday, let's also make this moment an opportunity to seek a path to peace, a better future in Gaza without Hamas." He added that Sinwar "had the blood of Americans and Israelis, Palestinians and Germans and so many others on his hands".

Sir Keir Starmer reiterated that in a press conference in the German capital, saying that "no one should mourn the death of Hamas leader Sinwar".

"The answer is diplomacy and now we must make the most of this moment," he added. "What is needed now is a ceasefire, immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, immediate access to humanitarian aid and a return to the path towards the two-state solution. as the only way to deliver long-term peace and security."

Sinwar, who is believed to have masterminded the 7 October attack which triggered Israel's retaliatory war inside Gaza, was killed in a suburb of Rafah on Wednesday in a seemingly chance encounter with patrolling Israeli troops.