Gaza (TDI): Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel would have the final say over which foreign forces could take part in a proposed international mission to secure Gaza under US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan.
The Israeli PM told his cabinet that any multinational force deployed in Gaza must align with Israel’s security needs and would not include countries deemed unacceptable by his government.
“We are in control of our own security,” Netanyahu said. “We have made it clear that Israel will determine which forces are acceptable to us, and which are not. This approach is fully understood and accepted by the United States,” he added.
The comments came as Washington continues talks with several countries, including Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye, and Azerbaijan, about contributing to the proposed security mission. The United States has already ruled out sending its own troops into Gaza but has pushed for a neutral international presence to uphold the fragile truce and facilitate reconstruction.
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While the plan has gained traction in Washington, it remains uncertain whether Arab or other nations will commit soldiers, given Hamas’s refusal to disarm as stipulated in Trump’s 20-point ceasefire framework.
Israel, which imposed a two-year siege on Gaza during its war against Hamas following the group’s October 7, 2023, attacks, continues to control all entry and exit points into the territory.
Netanyahu signaled last week that he would oppose any Turkish participation in the mission. Once close allies, Turkiye and Israel have seen relations deteriorate sharply during the Gaza conflict, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan among the most vocal critics of Israel’s military operations.
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During his recent visit to Israel, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed Israel’s position, saying the multinational force would need to consist of “countries that Israel is comfortable with.” Rubio did not comment specifically on Turkiye’s potential involvement but reaffirmed that Hamas would have no role in Gaza’s future governance.
