A diplomatic showdown is brewing over the future of Gaza, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has moved to block Turkey from any role in a planned international peacekeeping force. Netanyahu signaled his opposition to Turkish involvement last week, a stance rooted in the souring of relations during the recent war.
On Sunday, Netanyahu formalized this position, stating that Israel will have ultimate authority to approve or deny any country’s participation. “Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us,” he said, adding that the US agrees with this.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while not commenting on Turkey specifically, supported the principle. He stated that the force must be agreeable to Israel and that Hamas must be shut out of Gaza’s future leadership.
This dispute over the peace force comes as the Trump-brokered ceasefire, in effect since October 10, shows signs of unraveling. Hamas has not disarmed, and Israeli forces conducted a strike in the Nuseirat refugee camp, prompting Hamas to accuse Netanyahu of “undermining Trump’s peace efforts.”
The truce is further strained by the slow progress of exchanging remains. Donald Trump issued a warning to Hamas via Truth Social, demanding the return of more Israeli bodies within 48 hours. Hamas has blamed the delays on the difficulty of recovery from rubble.