STORY: :: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stresses the importance of a ceasefire in Gaza
:: after the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh
:: Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State
"Well, of course, I've seen the reports. And all I can tell you right now is I think nothing takes away from the importance of, as I said a moment ago, getting to the ceasefire, which is manifestly in the interests of the hostages and bringing them home. It's manifestly in the interests of Palestinians who are suffering terribly every single day.
"I'm not going to speculate on what impact any one event might have on that (ceasefire deal). I've learned over many years never to really speculate about that because we simply don't know. What I do know is the enduring imperative of getting the ceasefire. And what I do know is we'll continue to work at that every day."
:: July 31, 2024
:: Singapore
Blinken spoke while on an official visit to Singapore as part of a six-country tour of Asia.
Haniyeh, normally based in Qatar, has been the face of Hamas's international diplomacy as the war set off by the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7 has raged in Gaza.
The assassination comes as Israel's campaign in Gaza approaches the end of its 10th month with no sign of an end to a war that has threatened to spiral into a wider regional conflict. Ceasefire talks brokered by Egypt and Qatar appear to have faltered.
