Ceasefire talks in final stage, Haniyeh replacement Sinwar has power to decide — Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Yahya Sinwar, named as the new leader of Hamas’s political wing, has the power to ensure that a ceasefire deal is reached halting the war in Gaza and freeing hostages.

Blinken notes that Sinwar “has been and remains the primary decider when it comes to concluding the ceasefire.”

Hamas’s announcement of its promotion of Sinwar “only underscores the fact that it’s really on him to decide whether to move forward with a ceasefire that manifestly will help so many Palestinians in desperate need, women, children, men who are caught in a crossfire,” Blinken says. “… It really is on him.”

Blinken says talks on implementing the deal after months of painstaking negotiations have continued despite the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, who Sinwar will now take over for.

Blinken says the effort to reach a ceasefire is in the final stage, but is threatened by tensions with Iran.

“We believe … there is no reason this should not be concluded and concluded quickly,” he says. “This is really a time for all of the parties involved to close this out, no delays, no excuses, no reason we can’t do something focused on getting to yes.”