Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Sunday that Israel would have the final say on which foreign forces would be permitted to join an international force in Gaza, aimed at maintaining a delicate ceasefire proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. The participation of Arab and other nations in supplying troops remains uncertain due to Hamas militants’ refusal to disarm as outlined in the plan, raising concerns for Israel about the composition of the force.
While the U.S. has ruled out deploying American soldiers in Gaza, discussions have been underway with countries like Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and Azerbaijan to contribute to the multinational force. Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s control over its security and reiterated that the country would determine which forces were unacceptable, a stance supported by senior U.S. officials.
Netanyahu expressed reservations about Turkish security forces’ involvement in Gaza following strained relations between Turkey and Israel during the Gaza conflict. Israel, which enforced a blockade on Gaza during its military operations against Hamas in response to a cross-border attack in 2023, maintains control over access to the territory.
Meanwhile, Hamas announced an expanded search for hostages’ bodies in Gaza, with Egypt dispatching experts and heavy equipment to assist in the recovery efforts. Under the ceasefire agreement brokered by the U.S., Hamas is expected to swiftly return Israeli hostages’ remains, with Israel agreeing to repatriate Palestinian bodies in return.
As part of the ceasefire process, challenges lie ahead, including disarming Hamas and addressing governance issues in Gaza. International calls for increased humanitarian aid access to the famine-stricken area persist, while media access to Gaza remains restricted, with no changes reported on Sunday.
Hamas’s search for the remaining hostages’ bodies continues, with efforts to retrieve the remains facing obstacles due to extensive destruction. The U.S. President has warned Hamas to expedite the return of bodies within 48 hours, emphasizing the need for swift action.
The ceasefire was briefly threatened by Israeli strikes in Gaza, with Netanyahu defending the military’s actions as necessary preemptive measures against potential attacks. Hamas accused Israel of violating the ceasefire and disrupting U.S. mediation efforts to end the conflict.
In a separate incident, Israel launched strikes in Nuseirat in response to alleged Hamas militant attacks, resulting in casualties, including women and children. The escalating violence poses a challenge to the fragile ceasefire, with conflicting reports on the death toll from both sides.
