Israel has insisted on maintaining control over security in Gaza, despite signing a US-brokered ceasefire agreement that includes the deployment of an international security force. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s independence, stating that the country will decide for itself where and when to strike its foes and which countries will be allowed to send troops to police the truce.
This stance is in contrast to the terms of the ceasefire, which envision an international force, mainly composed of Arab or Muslim countries, securing Gaza as Israeli forces withdraw. However, Netanyahu has made it clear that Israel will determine which forces are acceptable, explicitly opposing any role for regional rival Turkey.
The ceasefire agreement also includes provisions for Hamas to return the remaining 13 hostage bodies, including 10 Israelis kidnapped during the group’s attack on October 7, 2023. While Hamas has insisted it is serious about returning these bodies, it has resisted calls for immediate disarmament and has launched a crackdown on rival Palestinian gangs and armed groups in Gaza.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed optimism that the ceasefire will hold if Hamas agrees to disarm and hand over the rule of Gaza. However, Israel’s insistence on maintaining control over security in Gaza has raised concerns about the feasibility of the ceasefire and the future of the region.
