Israel Asserts Authority: Netanyahu to Approve or Deny All Gaza Peace Troops

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted his country’s authority over the future of Gaza on Sunday, declaring that Israel will personally approve or deny any nation’s participation in a future international peacekeeping force. This move comes as the region operates under a fragile, Trump-brokered ceasefire.
“We have made it clear regarding international forces that Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us,” Netanyahu said. He added that the US, through its “most senior representatives,” finds this position acceptable.
This assertion is not just theoretical; Netanyahu has already indicated he would block any troops from Turkey. US Secretary ofState Marco Rubio, while in Israel, supported the principle, stating the force must be made of “countries that Israel’s comfortable with” and that Hamas will be excluded from power.
The truce itself, which began October 10, is facing multiple tests. Hamas has yet to disarm, and an Israeli strike on Saturday night against the Nuseirat camp drew condemnation from Hamas as a “clear violation.”
The agreement is also strained by the slow exchange of remains. Donald Trump took to Truth Social to warn Hamas that he is “watching very closely” and expects more Israeli bodies to be returned within 48 hours.