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Netanyahu Insists Israel Will Vet International Troops
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Sunday that Israel has the sovereign right to decide which foreign military forces are acceptable within its territory. Speaking at a cabinet meeting, he said: “We control our own security, and we have also made it clear regarding international forces that Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us.” He added that this stance “is, of course, acceptable to the United States as well”.
What This Means
The comment comes amid discussions of a planned multinational security force to police the Gaza Strip following a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. While Washington has approached countries like Indonesia, the UAE, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and Azerbaijan about contributing troops, Israel’s leadership has expressed concern about the exact composition of such a force.
Key Challenges Ahead
The proposed international force is intended to replace some Israeli military functions in Gaza—however, the final list of contributing nations remains uncertain. Israel’s insistence on spoiling or rejecting certain troop contributors may complicate the mission’s formation and could delay its deployment or reduce its scale. Observers note that the ability of the multinational force to function effectively may hinge on how much input Israel exerts versus how much external partners expect autonomy.
