As reactions continue to trail the killing of a Hamas chief in Iran, the United States government has denied culpability.
There is suspicion on Israel being responsible for the death.
The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken stated that the country was “not aware of or involved in” the killing of top Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh.
He was speaking to CNA during his two-day official visit to Singapore, hours after it was reported that Haniyeh – a key figure in the Gaza ceasefire talks – was killed in his residence in Iran’s capital Tehran.
He also noted that he does not want to speculate what the impact of the killing was going to be.
Blinken said: “It’s very hard to speculate, and I’ve learnt over many years never to speculate on the impact, one event may have on something else.”
He instead harped his energy on the need of getting a ceasefire to end the nine-month war, saying: “We will continue to labour that for as long as it takes to get there.”
He noted: “It’s vitally important to help end the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza. It’s vitally important to get the hostages home, including a number of Americans.
“It’s vitally important to hopefully put things on a better path for more enduring peace and more enduring security, so that focus remains and again, speculating on the impact of any one event, I’ve learned, is not a not a wise thing to do.”
He also noted that the United States of America is concerned that the crisis in Gaza does not spread to other parts.
“One of the things that we have been focused on is trying to make sure that the conflict that emerged in Gaza doesn’t spread, doesn’t go to other places, doesn’t escalate, and we’re going to continue to do that as well,” he added.
“Now again, the best way to bring temperature down everywhere and to put us on a better path is through a ceasefire in Gaza.”
The Israel-Gaza crisis has continued unabated despite calls for de-escalation of the hostilities that had led to the death of many including the destruction of properties and bilateral strains.
