Biden says killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh not helpful for ceasefire

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden addresses the nation on his decision to end his reelection bid in Washington

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden said on Thursday the killing of Palestinian Islamist group Hamas’ leader Ismail Haniyeh was not helpful for a ceasefire in Israel’s war in Gaza.

Biden said he had a direct conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier on Thursday.

He made the comments at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, where a plane carrying detainees released by Russia landed late on Thursday.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)