A fragile ceasefire in Gaza, brokered by Donald Trump, is under severe strain after Israeli forces struck the Nuseirat refugee camp on Saturday night. Hamas immediately condemned the strike as a “clear violation” of the truce and accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of undermining the peace efforts. The Israeli military claimed the strike targeted Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants, though the group denied planning any attack.
The violence erupts as Netanyahu asserts control over Gaza’s future. He declared on Sunday that Israel alone will decide which nations can participate in a planned international force, stating, “Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us.”
This assertion includes a clear signal against Turkish involvement, a point of friction given President Erdogan’s sharp criticism of Israel. The US, however, appears to back Israel’s condition. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the force must be agreeable to Israel and that Hamas must be excluded from any future government.
Discussions are underway to authorize the multinational force, possibly through a UN resolution, with talks scheduled in Qatar. Potential contributors mentioned include Egypt, Indonesia, and Gulf Arab states.
The truce is also hampered by a slow exchange of remains. Israel has returned 195 Palestinian bodies in exchange for 18 hostage remains from Hamas, a rate far from the agreed 15-to-1 ratio. Trump warned Hamas to return more bodies within 48 hours, though the group claims recovery is difficult in the rubble.