Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar cleared the way for a “new phase” in the deadly conflict in Gaza, AFP reports.

“With the death of Yahya Sinwar, the person principally responsible for the October 7 attacks no longer exists,” Meloni said in a statement.

“I am convinced that a new phase should be launched: it is time for all the hostages to be released, for a ceasefire to be immediately proclaimed and for the reconstruction of Gaza to begin. “