Israel’s announcement on Thursday of the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza has seemingly fuelled the US with new energy to pursue a stalled ceasefire agreement, but it faces a short window of opportunity and an emboldened ally as it looks to revive a deal.

The Biden administration’s reluctance to use any leverage against Israel for a ceasefire has brought into question the administration’s sincerity in wanting an end to the war on Gaza. It has also dulled perceptions of Washington’s ability to influence events as escalations between Israel and Iran, and Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, bring the region to the brink of an all-out war.

“To a certain extent, the US shares Israel’s interests and objectives and has been using flowery human rights rhetoric and ‘ceasefire talks’ as a way of distracting all parties involved and buying Israel time to carry out its genocide in Gaza, strike heavy blows against its regional adversaries, and re-establish the status quo through brute force.”

Matt Duss, executive vice president at the Center for International Policy, said the US is being drawn into a war that imperils its personnel and the region, and stopping it "rests on whether President Biden is finally willing to take the steps necessary – including suspending offensive weapons deliveries – to prevent a horrific conflagration.”

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