US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on Wednesday that the United States was not involved in the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and stressed the importance of a ceasefire in Gaza. In an interview with Channel News Asia during his visit to Singapore, Blinken stressed that the US was not aware of the planning or execution of the assassination, quoted by News.bg.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards confirmed Haniyeh's death, hours after he attended a swearing-in ceremony for Iran's new president. Haniya, who leads the Palestinian group and usually resides in Qatar, was a key figure in Hamas's international diplomacy.
"I have learned over the years never to speculate about the impact of one event on another," Blinken said when asked about the impact of Hania's death on the war.
The killing, less than 24 hours after Israel said it had killed a Hezbollah commander responsible for a deadly strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, could be a major blow to the chances of a ceasefire in the 10-month war.
Blinken, who has been in Asia since late last week, said a ceasefire and the release of the hostages in Gaza was essential and the US would do everything possible to make that happen.