U.S. "Sinwar dead, Gaza ceasefire talks could be inflection point"

The White House says the death of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar could be an inflection point for negotiations between Israel and Hamas on a cease-fire in Gaza.

John Kirby, National Security and Communications Adviser to the White House National Security Council, said on the 18th local time that Sinwar was a major obstacle to a ceasefire.

Kirby explained that so far Israel has not been willing to find a compromise, but that Sinwar has found a way to stop it, stressing that we believe it is important to end the war.

Earlier, President Joe Biden also said the news of Sinwar's death had an opportunity for a political solution.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will continue the war until all the hostages held by Hamas return, and Hamas has also stressed that the hostages will not be able to return unless the prisoners are released from occupied prisons, so it is unclear whether negotiations for a cease-fire will take place anytime soon.