Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Sunday that Israel would unilaterally determine which foreign forces it permits to join the planned international force in Gaza, supporting US President Donald Trump’s peace plan. Uncertainty remains about whether Arab and other nations will commit troops, particularly since Israel has already expressed deep concerns regarding the force’s composition and makeup.
Furthermore, while the Trump administration has explicitly ruled out deploying US soldiers to Gaza, the force might potentially include troops from Egypt, Indonesia, and Gulf Arab countries.
Netanyahu asserted during a cabinet session, “We are completely in control of our security, and subsequently we have clarified that Israel will determine which international forces are unacceptable to us, and this is exactly how we operate.” He then added, “This policy is certainly acceptable to the United States, since its most senior representatives have clearly confirmed this stance over recent days.”
Israel’s Security Demands
Israel continues controlling all access to the territory, especially following the two-year air and ground war it waged against the Gaza Strip since October, 2023. Last week, Netanyahu explicitly hinted that he firmly opposes any participation by Turkish security forces within the Gaza Strip, signaling an escalating diplomatic rift. Consequently, the previously warm Turkish-Israeli relationship hit new lows during the recent conflict when President Tayyip Erdogan lambasted Israel’s devastating military campaign in the small Palestinian enclave.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, currently visiting Israel to reinforce the fragile ceasefire, stated Friday that the international force must comprise “countries that Israel feels comfortable with.” However, Rubio specifically declined to comment directly on the potential involvement of Turkish forces in the peacekeeping mission.
Rubio also added that Israel and partner nations still must finalize Gaza’s future governance, emphasizing that the ruling structure definitely cannot include Hamas. Subsequently, Rubio indicated that US officials were gathering input for a possible UN resolution or international agreement, intending to authorize the multinational force, and planned to discuss the critical matter in Qatar on Sunday.
Ongoing Challenges
The Trump administration strongly desires Arab states to contribute both significant funds and peacekeeping troops to the new effort. Nevertheless, a significant challenge persists because Hamas has not yet committed to disarming; moreover, since the ceasefire took effect two weeks ago, the group launched a violent crackdown against rivals testing its power under Trump’s new 20-point peace plan.
Netanyahu later rejected the idea that “the American administration controls me and dictates Israel’s security policy,” asserting that Israel is an independent country. Ultimately, he summarized the Israel-U.S. relationship simply as a “partnership.”
