The White House reports no negotiations for the release of hostages have taken place since Sinwar’s death.
The United States states that since last week, when Yahya Sinwar, the head of the Hamas political bureau, was killed in an Israeli operation in Rafah, no negotiations have taken place for the release of hostages held by this group.
According to John Kirby, the spokesperson for the National Security Council of the White House, only preliminary discussions with Israeli partners about the next steps in this matter have been conducted.
He simultaneously clarified, ‘I cannot sit here today and tell you that negotiations will be pursued in Doha, Cairo, or elsewhere.’
Kirby says the Israeli side has expressed a strong desire to find a diplomatic solution for the return of the hostages.
After Sinwar’s death, the perception in the United States grew stronger that the new situation might provide an opportunity to reach an agreement on the release of Israeli hostages.