JERUSALEM (AP) — Two days after Israeli forces killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza, families of the hostages taken last year are urging the government to use this moment to bring their loved ones home.
Many are caught between deep fear and cautious optimism. They worry the militants holding their loved ones captive might now take matters into their own hands and retaliate against the hostages for Sinwar's death. But they also see a glimmer of hope: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may now be able to claim victory on one of his war goals, destroying Hamas politically, and pivot to the other, returning the hostages.
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FILE - Efrat Machikawa, whose uncle, Gadi Moses is in Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip since his capture from Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7, reacts at the Gaza border in Kibbutz Nirim, southern Israel, on Jan. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
FILE - Hagit, left, and Ruby Chen, parents of fallen Israeli soldier Itay Chen, pose for a portrait in Tel Aviv, on May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
FILE - Ruby Chen holds a poster of his son, Itay Chen, during a protest near Israel's parliament in Jerusalem, on March 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg, File)
A demonstrator holds a sign about the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar during a protest calling for a cease-fire deal and the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Tel Aviv, Israel. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
A demonstrator holds a sign about the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar during a protest calling for a cease-fire deal and the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Tel Aviv, Israel. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
“Netanyahu and the U.S. said in the last couple of weeks that Sinwar was the obstacle to getting a deal. Now he's not the obstacle. So this should bring them to take advantage of the window of opportunity to get a deal done, and fast,” said Ruby Chen, 55, father of American-Israeli hostage Itay Chen.
Chen, a 19-year-old former Boy Scout who loved basketball, was kidnapped from a military base on Oct. 7, 2023, one of some 250 hostages taken that day, in an attack where Hamas fighters killed roughly 1,200 people across southern Israel. Ruby Chen said the military has told the family they had some indication that Itay died in captivity, but he’s not sure that claim is true.
Assassinating Sinwar has been a top priority for Israel's military since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Israeli soldiers killed the Hamas leader in a chance encounter Wednesday, Israel’s military said, with a tank shell fired into a building where he was taking refuge following a gunfight with Israeli soldiers.
Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, about a third of whom are believed to be dead.
Ceasefire negotiations to secure their release have sputtered time and time again, and hostage families have criticized Netanyahu for prioritizing military victory over a deal.
“Mr. Netanyahu had a very dark legacy up to this day,” said Efrat Machikawa, 56, the niece of 80-year-old hostage Gadi Moses, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz. “But the time is now, exactly now ... Now is his chance to make sure all the hostages are coming back, the dead so they can have a proper burial and the living so they can be returned to their families.”
During a recent round of negotiations over a deal proposed by the Biden administration, Netanyahu refused to agree to withdraw Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip at war's end, a precondition for Hamas to agree to release hostages, and one Sinwar is believed to have clung to fiercely.
Now that Sinwar is dead, hostage families have reason to believe that both Netanyahu and Hamas negotiators could soften their stance.
In a speech late Thursday, Netanyahu said Sinwar's death does not mean the war is over. But he signaled that the killing could bring a deal closer, calling the return of the hostages his “supreme obligation,” and offering immunity to Hamas fighters who “put down their weapons and leave our hostages.”
To Ricardo Grichener, the uncle of 23-year-old hostage Omer Wenkert, Netanyahu's tone sounds more sincere than ever before.
“Before now, he was always aggressive, talking about how we needed to annihilate everyone from Hamas. Now he seems more dedicated, talking about returning the hostages as his own personal mission,” Grichener said.
Grichener's nephew, Wenkert, has colitis, an intestinal disease for which he needs daily medication. A hostage held with Wenkert in the tunnels who was released last year has said the conditions were dismal: they lived in complete darkness, slept on sand, and ate only three dates a day, and half a bottle of water every two days.
“Time is of the essence,” Grichener said.
“After 12 months held in nonhuman conditions, we are afraid that our lived ones will not survive. Especially after Sinwar's death, we don’t know who is controlling the guards. We don’t know if there will be any retaliation against the hostages. We need a deal now.”
FILE - Efrat Machikawa, whose uncle, Gadi Moses is in Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip since his capture from Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7, reacts at the Gaza border in Kibbutz Nirim, southern Israel, on Jan. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
FILE - Hagit, left, and Ruby Chen, parents of fallen Israeli soldier Itay Chen, pose for a portrait in Tel Aviv, on May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
FILE - Ruby Chen holds a poster of his son, Itay Chen, during a protest near Israel's parliament in Jerusalem, on March 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg, File)
A demonstrator holds a sign about the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar during a protest calling for a cease-fire deal and the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Tel Aviv, Israel. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
A demonstrator holds a sign about the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar during a protest calling for a cease-fire deal and the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Tel Aviv, Israel. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
BERLIN (AP) — U.S. President Joe Biden said it's important for Ukraine's Western allies to “sustain our resolve” in supporting the country as he met Friday with European partners, with the upcoming U.S. presidential election casting a long shadow over his visit to Germany.
Biden met Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Ukraine's second-biggest military supplier after the U.S. They were joined by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for discussions that also addressed the conflict in the Middle East.
With the election just weeks away and the race extremely tight, there are worries that a victory for Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, could upset the relationships that Biden is hoping to pass on to Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee.
Trump has an appetite for imposing trade tariffs on key U.S. security partners. He has expressed indifference to the security of Ukraine, refusing to say during a presidential debate if he wants the U.S. ally to win its war against Russia. He’s voiced doubts about coming to the defense of NATO members if they come under attack.
The gathered leaders never uttered Trump's name in public, yet their remarks often hinted at the possibility that he could withdraw support from Ukraine and scorn global alliances that Biden and his counterparts view as critical.
Biden in an exchange with reporters following his meeting with the three European leaders suggested that the U.S. election was discussed in the private talks. Asked if the leaders were worried about the presidential race, Biden responded tersely, “They're interested.”
Earlier in the day Biden emphasized the need to support Ukraine.
“As Ukraine faces a tough winter, we must — we must — sustain our resolve, our effort and our support,” Biden said.
Scholz said that “we will stand beside Ukraine as long as it is necessary,” pointing to a planned $50 billion international loan package funded by interest on profits from frozen Russian assets.
“Our position is clear: We are supporting Ukraine as strongly as possible,” he added. “At the same time, we are taking care that NATO does not become a party to the war so that this war doesn't culminate in an even bigger catastrophe.”
Scholz has indicated that he's skeptical about aspects of a “victory plan” drawn up by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and says he will stand by his refusal to supply Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Kyiv.
Biden is also opposed to loosening restrictions on letting Ukraine use western weapons to strike deeper into Russia, but did not shut the door on the issue.
“In foreign policy, there’s never a ‘never will I change my mind,'” Biden said. “Right now there is no consensus on long-range weapons."
Biden didn’t want his term to end without visiting Berlin, after having been to other key allies such as Japan, South Korea, France, India, the U.K., Poland and Ukraine. The visit was a quick one, with Biden spending about 20 hours on the ground in Berlin.
Concerns about what might come next were reflected as Biden received the highest class of Germany’s Order of Merit, which was also bestowed on former U.S. President George H.W. Bush in recognition of his support for German reunification.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the friendship with the U.S. is “and will always be existentially important” for Germany, but there have always been “times of proximity and greater distance.”
“Even recently, just a handful of years ago, the distance had grown so wide that we almost lost each other,” Steinmeier said, in an reference to tense relations during Trump’s earlier presidency. He said Biden “restored Europe's hope in the trans-Atlantic alliance literally overnight.”
Recalling the “wide sweep of history” he has seen in his 81 years, Biden said, “we should never underestimate the power of democracy, never underestimate the value of alliances.”
As he met Scholz, Biden said he was “grateful for Germany’s cooperation in holding Iran accountable for destabilizing policies, including providing missiles and drones to Russia to use against Ukraine.” He pointed to new European sanctions against Iran's leading airlines and said that “this coordination is going to have to continue.”
Biden reiterated his call for Israel to pursue peace after the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar — which he described as “a moment of justice.”
“I told the prime minister of Israel yesterday, let’s also make this moment an opportunity to seek a path to peace, a better future in Gaza without Hamas,” he said.
Biden said he and the European leaders discussed the way ahead following the killing of Sinwar. He suggested that negotiating a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hezbollah could be easier than forging one between Israel and Hamas.
“We think that there is a possibility of working for a ceasefire in Lebanon and it’s going to be harder in Gaza,” Biden said. “But we agree there has to be an outcome of what happens the day after.”
Biden declined to say whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave him assurance in their Thursday phone call that the Israelis are ready to get back to negotiations on the stalled cease-fire deals.
“We’re in the middle of discussions about that,” Biden said. “I’m not going to get into that.”
Trump has said his approach will help the U.S. economy and prevent foreign countries from taking advantage of the United States. He maintains that if he were still president, Russia would never have invaded Ukraine in 2022 and Hamas would never have attacked Israel in 2023.
“I will end the war in Ukraine, stop the chaos in the Middle East, and prevent World War III,” he said at a recent rally in Georgia.
Harris, for her part, has voiced strong backing for Ukraine and tracks with Biden on support for Israel, while placing particular emphasis on the need to relieve the suffering of Palestinian civilians whose lives have been upended by the Hamas-Israel war.
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AP writer Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed reporting.
President Joe Biden, 2nd left, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, 2nd right, President Emmanuel Macron of France, right, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom, pose for a family photo as they meet at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
President Joe Biden puts his hand on the shoulder of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom, US President Joe Biden, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, and President Emmanuel Macron of France, from left, standing together for a Family photo during a meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
President Joe Biden, 2nd left, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, 2nd right, President Emmanuel Macron of France, right, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom, pose for a family photo as they meet at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz deliver joint statements to the press at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
President Joe Biden talks to the media during a joint statement to the press with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz deliver joint statements to the press at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
President Joe Biden shake hands with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
President Joe Biden receives Germany's Grand Cross special class of the Order of Merit by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Bellevue Palace in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
President Joe Biden is greeted by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, right, during the welcoming ceremony at Bellevue Palace in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
President Joe Biden signs a guest book during the welcoming ceremony at Bellevue Palace in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
President Joe Biden and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier inspect the military honour guard during the welcoming ceremony at Bellevue Palace in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
President Joe Biden is welcomed by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier during the welcoming ceremony at Bellevue Palace in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
President Joe Biden is welcomed by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier during the welcoming ceremony at Bellevue Palace in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
President Joe Biden receives Germany's Grand Cross special class of the Order of Merit by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Bellevue Palace in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
President Joe Biden talks to the media during a joint statement to the press with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
President Joe Biden receives Germany's Grand Cross special class of the Order of Merit by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Bellevue Palace in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shake hands after delivering joint statements to the press at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
President Joe Biden arrives at Bellevue Palace in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
President Joe Biden, left, is greeted by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier during the welcoming ceremony at Bellevue Palace in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
President Joe Biden, left, is greeted by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier during the welcoming ceremony at Bellevue Palace in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
President Joe Biden gestures as he speaks after arriving at Brandenburg Airport in Schoenefeld near Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
President Joe Biden walks down the stairs of Air Force One as he arrives at Brandenburg Airport in Schoenefeld near Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
