31-7-2024 (SINGAPORE) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has categorically denied any American involvement in the reported killing of top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. During his official visit to Singapore on Wednesday, 31 July, Blinken stated unequivocally that the United States was “not aware of or involved in” the incident.
The statement came mere hours after reports surfaced of Haniyeh’s death at his residence in Tehran, Iran’s capital. Haniyeh, a key figure in the ongoing Gaza ceasefire negotiations, was reportedly killed under circumstances that remain unclear.
When pressed about the potential ramifications of this development on the progress of the war, Blinken exercised caution. “It’s very hard to speculate, and I’ve learned over many years never to speculate on the impact one event may have on something else,” he remarked, emphasising the unpredictable nature of such events in geopolitics.
Instead, the US Secretary of State redirected focus towards the urgent need for a ceasefire to end the nine-month-long conflict. “We will continue to labour that for as long as it takes to get there,” Blinken affirmed, underlining the US commitment to peace in the region.
Blinken stressed the multifaceted importance of achieving a ceasefire, citing three critical objectives: alleviating the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, securing the release of hostages (including several American citizens), and paving the way for “more enduring peace and more enduring security”.
The Secretary’s comments came during his two-day official visit to Singapore, part of an extensive six-country tour of Asia. This 18th trip to the Indo-Pacific region, spanning from 25 July to 3 August, includes stops in Laos, the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, and Mongolia.
During his time in Singapore, Blinken engaged in high-level meetings with key government officials, including Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan.
