The death of 61-year-old Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader who is widely regarded as the architect of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, could prove a turning point in the conflict. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can continue to insist that “war isn’t over,” as he did shortly after the confirmed kill. Or it could become a landmark moment in which Netanyahu sees a chance not just to keep pounding away at what’s left of Hamas leadership (and with them, innocent Palestinians in Gaza) but to seek a cease-fire deal that might lead to the release of hostages and perhaps lead to more fruitful peace negotiations.

We recognize the latter is a long shot, but some kind of short-term cease-fire surely isn’t. At least President Joe Biden doesn’t think so, and it’s been encouraging to see the 46th president adroitly push for exactly that — including during his visit to Germany on Friday. “Let’s also make this moment an opportunity to seek a path to peace, a better future in Gaza without Hamas,” Biden reportedly told Netanyahu during his flight to Berlin on Air Force One.

For an 81-year-old who has been mocked by his political opponents for diminished mental capacity, that makes a lot of sense. If Biden were running for reelection, he probably couldn’t be so explicit about advocating for a cease-fire for fear of upsetting some crucial swing-state voters. There’s something to be said for a president freed from the constraints of a political campaign.

Of course, intent is one thing; getting this done is another. When it comes to the Middle East, the smart money is seldom on peace. But Sinwar was an especially bad actor. His attack may have killed 1,200 and caused 250 to be taken hostage, but it also triggered a broader conflict that’s resulted in at least 40,000 deaths. How does that math make sense even to be most diehard follower? And one thing Netanyahu has proved is that you may run, but you can’t hide from Israel’s intelligence agents and military.

Will Israel now commit to at least temporarily stopping its attacks on Gaza and agree to allow more humanitarian assistance? Might Netanyahu make freeing the hostages a higher priority? Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to soon be headed for Israel to pursue this path of peace, including bringing some safety and stability to the Palestinian people. We wish him luck. It’s the right thing to do.