The State Department on Thursday said the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar by Israeli troops presented an “opportunity” for a potential cease-fire and an end to the yearlong war.  

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said until Sinwar’s death, “there’s been no path to ending this war because Sinwar has refused to talk about releasing the hostages.”

“We now see an opportunity with him having been removed from the battlefield, being removed from the leadership of Hamas. We wanted to seize that opportunity,” Miller said. 

Sinwar was a chief architect of the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre in which Hamas militants stormed into Israel, killing nearly 1,200 people and kidnapping 250 others in an attack that stunned the country. As of October 2024, Hamas militants are still holding around 100 hostages. 

WHO WAS YAHYA SINWAR? THE ISRAELI PRISONER TURNED TERRORIST HAMAS LEADER KILLED BY IDF TROOPS

IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi speaks with troops at the location where Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed.  (Israel Defense Forces)

Israeli forces hailed Sinwar’s death as a major victory, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that his country will keep fighting until all hostages are free. He said Israeli forces will control Gaza long enough to ensure that Hamas does not rearm.

BIDEN, US LAWMAKERS PRAISE DEATH OF HAMAS LEADER YAHYA SINWAR BY ISRAEL: ‘THE WORLD IS A SAFER PLACE’

A view of a poster in the Iranian capital of Tehran featuring Hamas political chief Yahya Sinwar Aug. 13, 2024 (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images)

It’s not clear who will succeed Sinwar. While his death is a crippling blow to Hamas, the group has proven resilient to past losses of its leaders. 

“One thing we do know for certain is that the world is a better place with Sinwar gone from it, and it gives us an opportunity that we didn’t have as long as he still called the shots for Hamas,” Miller said. “Now what that will mean, we’ll have to wait and see in the days ahead.”

In the 12 months of fighting, Israeli forces have killed more than 42,000 Palestinians and destroyed much of the Gaza Strip. The figures come from the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but says half of those who were killed were women and children. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris has said his government will receive “formal advice” next week from attorney general Rossa Fanning that could revive a bill outlawing trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The Occupied Territories Bill was first tabled in 2018 by senator Frances Black, before the war in Gaza and Lebanon broke out. 

It aims to make it an offence in Ireland to import, attempt to import or assist another person in importing goods made in Israeli settlements, which are considered illegal under international law by the UN and most states.

Despite receiving broad cross-party support, the bill’s progression has stalled over concerns it breached EU trade law — with Ireland fearing being penalised by Brussels.

But according to Dublin, a July advisory opinion by the Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) provides legal grounds to revive the bill.

The Court’s opinion, which has no binding force, states that states are obliged “not to render aid or assistance” that could maintain Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories.

“The ICJ advisory opinion is a game changer in terms of the context, because it now places an obligation on countries to do all they can to help end the unlawful illegal occupation,” the Taoiseach told reporters in Brussels on Wednesday.

“I’d like to do that at an EU level, but regardless of the EU position, I’m not going to ignore the obligation that I believe now exists on Ireland to act,” he added.

Could the bill be revived and passed?

Both the lower house of the legislature, the Dáil, and the senate, the Seanad, have approved the bill, but not the government.

The current government coalition is formed of Fianna Fáil (Renew Europe) and the Greens, both of whom supported the bill back in 2018, and Fine Gael (EPP), which previously voted down the bill.

But Harris, the Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader, has strongly hinted he is hoping to inject fresh impetus into the bill.

“We want to see if it is now possible to move ahead in terms of trade restrictions, in terms of the occupied Palestinian territories,” he said on Wednesday.

Harris has also expressed a clear will to unilaterally suspend trade with Israel without Brussels’ support.

“Ireland (…)  will not wait for everybody in Europe to move on the issue,” he said.

Could other EU countries follow suit?

The EU-Israel trade deal, also known as the Association Agreement, does not apply to products originating from the occupied territories. 

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It means Israeli goods made in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are exempt from preferential tariffs. Goods originating from settlements must also be clearly labelled in customs declarations.

Euronews asked the European Commission to provide further details on the value of products originating from settlements reaching the EU market. It said in a statement: “Trade with settlements is not included in EU trade figures with Israel.”

“The EU does not recognise Israel’s illegal settlements as part of Israel’s territory. Therefore, EU importers should not declare Israel as country of origin if goods are imported from the settlements,” the statements adds.

Ireland and Spain have spearheaded calls for Brussels to use its economic leverage to exert diplomatic pressure on Israel, by reviewing the Association Agreement and further restricting trade with Israel.

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The Association Agreement includes a clause that makes EU-Israel relations “based on the respect for human rights and democratic principles,” meaning it could be suspended if EU countries agreed unanimously that Israel’s operations in Gaza and Lebanon violated fundamental rights.

The European Union is Israel’s main trading partner, accounting for 28.8% of its trade in goods in 2022.

EU leaders agreed to hold a special council to discuss that deal in May. While Israel has agreed in principle to attend that council, it has dismissed top diplomat Josep Borrell’s suggestion the meeting should be convened specifically to address Israel’s compliance with human rights in Gaza.

“I am afraid the Association Council will not take place before the next foreign affairs council,” Borrell said this week, in a sign the talks between both sides on the arrangements of the council are still in deadlock. The next foreign affairs council is scheduled to take place in mid-November.

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Belgium’s caretaker prime minister Alexander de Croo has called for an EU ban on Israeli products originating from the occupied Palestinian territories, and the ban has already been enacted by the Brussels City Council.

Norway, not a EU member state, has advised its businesses against trading with Israeli settlements in response to the war in Gaza.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Javonte Williams rushed two touchdowns and the Denver Broncos triumphed in coach Sean Payton’s return to New Orleans, beating the banged-up and reeling Saints 33-10 on Thursday night.

Bo Nix passed for 164 yards and ran for 75 yards for Denver (4-3), which dominated statistically. The Broncos outgained New Orleans 389 yards to 271 while sending the Saints (2-5) to their fifth straight defeat.

With Saints quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) missing his second straight game, there were rookies under center for both teams.

Spencer Rattler made his second straight start for New Orleans and his lack of experience was exacerbated by injuries all across the the offense.

The Saints were missing top receivers Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (knee), the latter going on injured reserve earlier in the day. Two starting linemen, center Erik McCoy (groin) and guard Cesar Ruiz (knee), were out. Versatile tight end Taysom Hill (ribs) missed his third straight game.

Rattler was overwhelmed by a Denver defense that came in ranked fourth in the NFL in yards allowed.

He was 25 of 35 for 172 yards, rushed for 34 yards and lost two fumbles, the second of which was returned 52 yards for a touchdown by Cody Barton in the fourth quarter. Rattler appeared shaken up on the play and was replaced by Jake Haener, who connected with Cedric Wilson for New Orleans’ lone TD.

Barton forced Rattler’s first fumble, which led to one of former Saint Wil Lutz’s four field goals.

Rattler was sacked six times, once by linebacker Nik Bonitto, who had a sack for a fifth straight game.

New Orleans’ defense, meanwhile, could not come up with any momentum-turning plays.

Tryann Mathieu uncharacteristically dropped an errant pass by Nix that sailed directly to the veteran defensive back late in the second quarter. That allowed the the Broncos to close out the half with a field goal and a 16-3 lead.

Memory lane

During halftime, record-setting former QB Drew Brees was honored on the field to mark his induction into the Saints Hall of Fame. Team owner Gayle Benson presented Brees with a blazer, and a portrait of the club’s all-time passer holding the Lombardi Trophy was unveiled.

Brees also was honored at a luncheon earlier in the day, during which Payton made an appearance to congratulate the star player he coached for 14 seasons.

Brees, whose 80,358 career yards passing rank second in NFL history behind only Tom Brady’s 89,214, brought New Orleans its only Super Bowl triumph after the 2009 season.

For many fans in attendance, the halftime festivities were the highlight of the night. The Superdome was largely empty by the fourth quarter.

Injuries

Broncos: CB Patrick Surtain (concussion) and RT Alex Palczewski (ankle) were inactive.

Saints: CB Paulson Adebo was carted off the field with an air cast on his right leg in the second quarter and taken to a hospital. … CB Marshon Lattimore left with a hamstring injury. … OL Nick Saldiveri left with a shoulder injury. LB Pete Werner (hamstring) was inactive.

Up next

Broncos: Host Carolina on Oct. 27.

Saints: Visit the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 27.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl