Israel’s Peace Force Conditions: Netanyahu Demands Veto, Blocks Turkey

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is laying out strict conditions for a Gaza peacekeeping force, demanding a full veto and already moving to block Turkey. The prime minister said on Sunday that Israel will decide which foreign troops are allowed in the territory.
“Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us,” Netanyahu stated. This comes as relations with Turkey remain tense following President Erdogan’s criticism of Israel’s military actions.
Netanyahu claimed the US supports his position. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting Israel, affirmed that the force must be composed of “countries that Israel’s comfortable with” and that Hamas must be excluded from any future government.
The Trump-brokered truce, meanwhile, is on shaky ground. Hamas has not disarmed, and an Israeli strike on the Nuseirat camp was condemned by the group as a “clear violation.”
The exchange of remains is another flashpoint. Donald Trump has warned Hamas to speed up the return of Israeli bodies. Hamas has returned 18 remains, citing difficulties in recovery, while Israel has returned 195 Palestinian bodies.