The “fragile” Donald Trump-brokered truce, in effect since October 10, is facing potential collapse. An Israeli strike rocked a refugee camp, and a dispute over the exchange of remains is festering, all while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sets new, hardline conditions for peace.
Netanyahu declared Sunday that Israel will have a full veto over the international peacekeeping force, a move he says the US supports. “Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us,” he said.
This comes as Hamas condemned the Israeli strike on Nuseirat as a “clear violation.” Israel claimed it targeted Islamic Jihad militants.
The truce is also strained by the slow return of remains. Hamas has returned 18, blaming rubble, while Israel has returned 195. Trump has warned Hamas to speed up the process.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in Israel, backed Netanyahu’s stance, stating the force must be “comfortable” for Israel and must exclude Hamas.