'Israel' to decide which foreign troops acceptable to secure Gaza ceasefire, rejects Turkish role
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that 'Israel' would determine which foreign forces could participate in a proposed international mission in Gaza aimed at securing a fragile ceasefire under US President Donald Trump’s plan.
It remains uncertain whether Arab or other states will agree to commit troops, particularly given Hamas’s refusal to disarm as required by the US-backed plan.
'Israel' has also raised concerns about the potential composition of such a force.
While Washington has ruled out deploying American soldiers in Gaza, the Trump administration has approached Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and Azerbaijan about contributing to the multinational mission.
“We are in control of our security, and we have made it clear regarding international forces that Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us,” Netanyahu said during a cabinet session. “This is, of course, acceptable to the United States as well, as its most senior representatives have expressed in recent days.”
Last week, Netanyahu hinted he would oppose any role for Turkish security forces in Gaza. 'Israel' has since made that position explicit. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said a Turkish military presence “is not reasonable,” citing alleged Ankara’s support for Hamas and its hostile rhetoric toward Israel as key reasons for rejection.
Meanwhile, US Senator Marco Rubio said the future governance of Gaza must be determined by 'Israel' and partner nations, emphasizing that Hamas cannot be part of that framework.
In a separate development, Jordan’s King Abdullah II told BBC Panorama that Amman would not send troops to Gaza, saying Jordan is “too close politically.” The King noted that many countries would resist “enforcing” peace under the Trump-brokered ceasefire between 'Israel' and Hamas, instead preferring a “peacekeeping role.”
“What is the mandate of security forces inside Gaza? We hope it is peacekeeping, because if it’s peace enforcing, nobody will want to touch that,” King Abdullah said.
According to Trump’s plan, Arab states and international partners are expected to train and support vetted Palestinian police forces in Gaza, in coordination with Jordan and Egypt, both of which have prior experience in such security arrangements.
