Austin says Hamas leader's death creates chance for ceasefire

BRUSSELS - Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar's killing opens a major opportunity to negotiate a lasting ceasefire, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters on Friday, after attending a NATO defence ministers' meeting in Brussels.

He added that US Forces in the Middle East stand ready to support Israel's defence.

"Sinwar's death also provides an extraordinary opportunity to achieve a lasting ceasefire, to end this awful war and to rush humanitarian aid into Gaza", he said.