“I believe very much that the death of Sinwar does create an important opportunity to bring the hostages home, to bring the war to an end and to ensure Israel’s security,” Blinken said as he met Israeli president Isaac Herzog following talks with prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Blinken also met with families of hostages who are still held in Gaza since the Oct 7, 2023 attack by Hamas sparked the war.

Herzog, who holds a largely ceremonial role, agreed that Israel’s killing of Sinwar could change the dynamic.

“Following the killing of Sinwar and the other circumstances that have evolved, there is a unique opportunity to make a special effort to employ all tools necessary and possible to move forward and bring the hostages back home,” Herzog said.