Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that Israel would have the final say on which foreign forces could be part of an international force in Gaza aimed at enforcing a fragile ceasefire proposed under U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative. The participation of Arab and other nations in providing troops remains uncertain due to the refusal of Palestinian Hamas militants to disarm as required by the plan, while Israel has raised concerns about the composition of the force.
Although the U.S. has ruled out deploying American soldiers in Gaza, discussions have been held with countries such as Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and Azerbaijan to contribute to the multinational force. Netanyahu emphasized that Israel would exercise control over its security and determine which foreign forces would be deemed unacceptable.
Last week, Netanyahu hinted at opposition to the involvement of Turkish security forces in Gaza, reflecting the strained relations between Turkey and Israel following the Gaza war. Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza to support its military operations against Hamas since the group’s attack on October 7, 2023.
Hamas announced on Sunday that it had expanded efforts to locate the bodies of hostages in Gaza, with Egypt providing assistance in the recovery process. According to the ceasefire terms brokered by the U.S., Hamas is expected to return Israeli hostages’ remains promptly, with Israel agreeing to repatriate Palestinian bodies in return.
In the ongoing post-war phase in Gaza, challenges such as the disarmament of Hamas and governance issues are anticipated. The United Nations and aid partners continue to call on Israel to allow more humanitarian assistance into the famine-stricken region. Hamas has been conducting extensive search missions for the remaining hostages, while international media access to Gaza remains restricted.
Netanyahu defended Israeli military actions following strikes on the Nuseirat refugee camp, which Hamas deemed a violation of the ceasefire agreement. The military claimed the strikes targeted militants planning attacks, a claim denied by the Islamic Jihad group. At the same time, Hamas accused Netanyahu of undermining U.S. efforts to resolve the conflict.
Israeli forces had previously targeted Nuseirat in response to alleged killings of soldiers by Hamas militants, leading to a significant escalation of violence in Gaza. The toll from the prolonged conflict in Gaza has been devastating, with conflicting reports on casualties.
