“Israel Will Determine”: Netanyahu Lays Down Law on Gaza Peacekeepers

“Israel will determine” — that was the clear message from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday regarding the planned international peacekeeping force for Gaza. Days after a Trump-brokered truce, Netanyahu asserted Israel’s absolute right to veto any participating nation.
“We have made it clear… Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us,” he stated, adding that this position has the full backing of the United States.
This hardline stance comes amid significant challenges. Hamas remains armed and refuses to disarm. Diplomatically, Netanyahu has already signaled opposition to Turkish involvement, reflecting the poor state of relations.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in Israel, supported the prime minister’s condition. He said the force must be agreeable to Israel and that Hamas will have no role in Gaza’s future.
The ceasefire itself is unstable. An Israeli strike hit the Nuseirat camp, targeting alleged Islamic Jihad militants. Hamas decried the move as a “clear violation.” The truce is also strained by a slow exchange of remains, prompting Donald Trump to warn Hamas to act faster.