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Biden Says Killing of Hamas Leader Haniyeh Not Helpful for Ceasefire Talks

US President Joe Biden. (Reuters)
US President Joe Biden. (Reuters)
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Biden Says Killing of Hamas Leader Haniyeh Not Helpful for Ceasefire Talks

US President Joe Biden. (Reuters)
US President Joe Biden. (Reuters)

US President Joe Biden said on Thursday the killing of Palestinian group Hamas' leader Ismail Haniyeh was not helpful for reaching a ceasefire in Israel's war in Gaza.
There has been an increased risk of an escalation into a broader Middle East war after the assassination of Haniyeh in Iran drew threats of retaliation against Israel, reported Reuters.
Hamas and Iran's Revolutionary Guards confirmed the death of Haniyeh, who had participated in internationally-brokered indirect talks on reaching a ceasefire in Gaza.
Anxious residents in Israeli-besieged Gaza feared that Haniyeh's killing on Wednesday would prolong the war.
Iran said the killing took place hours after he attended a swearing-in ceremony for its new president.
"It doesn't help," Biden told reporters late on Thursday, when asked if Haniyeh's assassination ruined the chances for a ceasefire agreement.
Biden also said he had a direct conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier on Thursday.
Netanyahu's government has issued no claim of responsibility but he has said Israel had delivered crushing blows to Iran's proxies of late, including Hamas and Lebanon-based Hezbollah, and would respond forcefully to any attack.
Israel's tensions with Iran and Hezbollah have fanned fears of a widened conflict in a region already on edge amid Israel's assault on Gaza which has killed tens of thousands and caused a humanitarian crisis.
The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on Oct. 7 when Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
The Gaza health ministry says that since then Israel's military assault on the Hamas-governed enclave has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians while also displacing nearly the entire population of 2.3 million, causing a hunger crisis and leading to genocide accusations that Israel denies.
The United States has said it was not involved in the killing of Haniyeh.

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UN Lifts Sanctions on Yemen’s Ahmed Ali Saleh, Late Father

With the sanctions lifted, Ahmed Saleh can now travel and access his frozen assets, and his supporters hope he will play a key role in Yemen’s future (Local Media)
With the sanctions lifted, Ahmed Saleh can now travel and access his frozen assets, and his supporters hope he will play a key role in Yemen’s future (Local Media)
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UN Lifts Sanctions on Yemen’s Ahmed Ali Saleh, Late Father

With the sanctions lifted, Ahmed Saleh can now travel and access his frozen assets, and his supporters hope he will play a key role in Yemen’s future (Local Media)
With the sanctions lifted, Ahmed Saleh can now travel and access his frozen assets, and his supporters hope he will play a key role in Yemen’s future (Local Media)

The UN Security Council (UNSC) has removed the late Yemeni President, Ali Abdullah Saleh, and his son Ahmed from its sanctions list, following efforts by Yemeni leaders with support from Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

This move is seen as part of a broader push by Saudi Arabia and the international community to bring peace to Yemen. These efforts aim to address the crisis through political, economic, social, and developmental measures.

The UN announced on Wednesday evening that its sanctions committee has removed Saleh and his son from the list, a decision made under Resolution 2140.

The UNSC had imposed sanctions on Saleh, his son Ahmed, and Houthi leaders following the Houthi coup against the government led by President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi.

Supporters of the son of the late Yemeni president are pleased with the decision.

Saleh was killed in December 2017 after turning against the Houthis.

Meanwhile, Saleh’s nephew, Tariq Saleh, joined the legitimate government and now sits on the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC).

Saleh’s son Ahmed served as commander of the Republican Guard and special forces during his father’s rule until he was removed from his position in 2013. He was then appointed as Yemen’s ambassador to the UAE where he has stayed after he was removed from his post.

With the sanctions lifted, he can now travel and access his frozen assets, and his supporters hope he will play a key role in Yemen’s future.

Tariq Saleh welcomed the UN decision to lift sanctions on his late uncle and his cousin, Ahmed. He thanked the PLC and the support from Saudi Arabia and the UAE in a post on X.

In addition, Yemeni state news agency Saba reported that Othman Majali, another member of the PLC, called Ahmed to congratulate him.

Majali praised the decision as a result of the PLC’s efforts and international support, and urged for unity to restore Yemen and overcome the Houthi insurgency.