Israel’s leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, claimed the right to choose which nations participate in a future international peacekeeping force for Gaza. This declaration comes days after a Donald Trump-brokered truce went into effect, and as Hamas continues to refuse to disarm.
“We have made it clear… Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us,” Netanyahu said on Sunday. He also stated that this condition is “acceptable to the United States,” citing support from senior US officials.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting Israel, backed this. He said the force must be made of “countries that Israel’s comfortable with” and that Hamas will be excluded from power.
Netanyahu has already signaled he would use this power to block Turkish involvement, following a diplomatic spat with President Erdogan. It is unclear which other states, like Egypt or Gulf nations, will join.
The truce remains shaky. An Israeli strike on the Nuseirat camp was condemned by Hamas as a “clear violation.” Simultaneously, the slow return of hostage remains by Hamas has prompted a public warning from Trump.