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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said that Israel will determine which foreign troops it allows as part of a planned international force in Gaza under US President Donald Trump’s peace plan.
“We are in control of our security, and Israel will decide which international forces are unacceptable to us,” Netanyahu told his cabinet. He added that the US supports Israel’s position.
However, it remains unclear which Arab or other countries will commit troops. While the Trump administration has ruled out sending US soldiers, the force could include personnel from Egypt, Indonesia and Gulf Arab states.
Israel continues to control all access to Gaza, which it has besieged for two years during its war against Hamas following the group’s October 7, 2023, cross-border attack.
According to a Reuters report, Netanyahu has indicated opposition to any Turkish role in the Gaza force, following a deterioration in Israeli-Turkish relations during the war. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticised Israel’s air and ground campaign in Gaza.
US-ISRAEL A ‘PARTNERSHIP’
Furthermore, Netanyahu emphasised that Israel is independent in its security decisions, rejecting the idea that the US controls its policy. He described the relationship between Israel and the US as a “partnership.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting Israel to support the ceasefire, said the force must include countries Israel is “comfortable with,” but did not comment on Turkey specifically. Rubio added that Gaza’s future governance will need agreement among Israel and partner nations, excluding Hamas.
Rubio said US officials are considering a UN resolution or international agreement to authorise the multinational force, with discussions planned in Qatar. The Trump administration is also seeking Arab financial and troop contributions.
Hamas has not agreed to disarm and has carried out a crackdown on groups challenging its authority since the ceasefire began two weeks ago under the first stage of Trump’s 20-point plan.
- Ends
Published By:
Shipra Parashar
Published On:
Oct 26, 2025
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