Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is setting the terms for peace in Gaza, declaring that Israel will control the composition of the international force meant to secure the territory. He announced on Sunday that the United States supports this demand.
“Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us,” Netanyahu said, a significant move as the Trump-brokered truce holds. The challenge of an armed Hamas and its refusal to disarm remains a central issue.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in Israel to support the ceasefire, affirmed the US position. He said the force must be agreeable to Israel and that Gaza’s future governance must be decided “excluding Hamas.”
Diplomatic tensions are already clear, with Netanyahu signaling opposition to Turkey’s participation. The US, which will not send troops, is exploring a UN resolution to authorize the force, which could include Arab states.
The truce is also facing practical tests. An Israeli strike on Nuseirat camp, targeting alleged militants, was called a “violation” by Hamas. The slow exchange of remains is another flashpoint, with Trump warning Hamas to speed up the return of Israeli bodies.
37