The United States is backing Israel’s demand to have final approval over any international peacekeeping force deployed to Gaza. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting Israel, said the force must be composed of “countries that Israel’s comfortable with,” echoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration.
Netanyahu stated Sunday that “Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us,” a move aimed at controlling the post-peace landscape. This comes as Hamas, which remains armed, continues to pose a challenge to the Trump-brokered truce.
Rubio also confirmed that Gaza’s future governance must be decided by “Israel and its partners, excluding Hamas.” US officials are reportedly exploring a UN resolution to authorize the multinational force, with discussions scheduled in Qatar.
The list of acceptable nations is already a point of contention. Netanyahu has voiced opposition to including Turkey, a nation whose leader, President Erdogan, was highly critical of Israel’s military operations. The US itself has ruled out sending soldiers.
The ceasefire remains tenuous. An Israeli strike on Saturday night in the Nuseirat camp, which Israel said targeted Islamic Jihad, was condemned by Hamas as a “clear violation.” The slow return of hostage remains by Hamas is another point of friction, drawing a sharp warning from Donald Trump.