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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel will determine which foreign forces are acceptable for a planned international stabilization force in Gaza, maintaining Israeli control over security arrangements as part of U.S. President Donald Trump's ceasefire framework.
"We are in control of our security, and we have also made it clear regarding international forces that Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us, and this is how we operate and will continue to operate," Netanyahu told his cabinet at the start of the government meeting.
"This is, of course, acceptable to the United States as well, as its most senior representatives have expressed in recent days. Israel is an independent state. We will defend ourselves with our own forces, and we will continue to control our destiny," he added.
The statement signals that Israel maintains veto power over participating nations in the multinational force, a position that has particular implications for Türkiye, which has expressed readiness to contribute troops and support to Gaza's stabilization and reconstruction.
The Turkish Defense Ministry said Thursday that the Turkish military stands ready to assume any mission aimed at maintaining peace in Gaza within the framework of international law, positioning itself as a potential contributor to the international stabilization force.
"Given the ongoing humanitarian tragedy in Gaza for the past two years, delivering urgent humanitarian aid and rebuilding the destroyed infrastructure have become priorities," Turkish defense sources said.
Türkiye said a Civil-Military Coordination Center has been established as part of efforts to set up the Gaza Task Force. Under this structure, an International Stabilization Force is planned with duties including security patrols, protecting civilian infrastructure, delivering humanitarian aid, ensuring border security, training local security forces, and monitoring the ceasefire.
"The Turkish Armed Forces, with the experience it has gained from previous peace missions, stands ready to assume any duties entrusted to it for the establishment and maintenance of peace within the framework of international law," Turkish sources said.
The Turkish defense ministry noted that Türkiye is "one of the four guarantor countries of the ceasefire agreement" and continues diplomatic and military consultations with other states regarding the Gaza stabilization force.
Netanyahu has previously hinted at opposition to any role for Turkish security forces in Gaza. When asked by reporters during Vice President JD Vance's visit whether he would allow Turkish personnel to play a role in postwar Gaza, Netanyahu responded, "I have very strong opinions on that. You want to guess what they are?"
The Israeli position reflects deeply strained Turkish-Israeli relations, which have deteriorated significantly during the Gaza war.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has harshly criticized Israel's military operations, routinely calling the war a genocide and comparing Prime Minister Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler.
As the conflict escalated, Erdogan cut off diplomatic relations and trade with Israel. However, Erdogan and Türkiye subsequently played key roles in facilitating the ceasefire, with Erdogan helping press Hamas to accept the ceasefire agreement, making Ankara a key guarantor of the arrangement.
"As Türkiye, we are doing our utmost to support a ceasefire. Hamas is adhering to the ceasefire and has clearly expressed its commitment. Israel, however, continues to violate it. The international community, especially the U.S., must make greater efforts to ensure Israel fully complies. Adequate diplomatic pressure on Israel is essential," Erdogan recently stated.
"We will rebuild Gaza together. This is not something that Türkiye, Egypt, or other Gulf countries can do alone. It requires a coordinated, collective effort, and we have held comprehensive discussions at every stage," the Turkish president also stated, expressing Ankara's readiness to provide Gaza with comprehensive support.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on a visit to Israel aimed at shoring up the fragile ceasefire, said Friday that the international force would have to be made up of "countries that Israel's comfortable with," but declined to comment specifically on Turkish involvement.
The Trump administration has ruled out sending U.S. soldiers into Gaza but is seeking contributions from other nations.
The force could potentially draw on troops from Egypt, Indonesia and Gulf Arab countries, though Arab and other states have not yet committed to deployment.
Vice President Vance also stated on potential Turkish troops in Gaza, Vance said the U.S. will not "force anything" on Israel, "but we do think that there's a constructive role for the Turks to play."
He said the U.S. is grateful for Türkiye's "constructive" role in the region.
The first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza ceasefire deal went into effect on Oct. 10. Phase one includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
The first stage of Trump's 20-point plan faces significant challenges. A major obstacle is that Hamas has not committed to disarming and has since embarked on a violent crackdown against groups that have tested its grip on power.
Since October 2023, Israel’s genocidal war has killed over 68,200 people and injured more than 170,300, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
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