Middle East Crisis Gaza War

Netanyahu: Israel has veto on security forces in Gaza

Israel will decide on its own which countries will be allowed to participate in a future operation to maintain security in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this on Sunday, AFP reports.

According to the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, several Arab countries are expected to send forces to Gaza. However, Israel does not want its local rival Turkey to play a role.

– We have made it clear to the international forces that Israel will decide which forces are unacceptable to us, says Netanyahu

Concerns grow over permanent division of Gaza

In accordance with the peace agreement, Gaza has been divided into an eastern half controlled by Israel, and a western half where Hamas is trying to fill the power vacuum. Now there are growing concerns that the division will become permanent, writes The Guardian.

Israel has begun marking the so-called Yellow Line with yellow concrete blocks, setting up dozens of outposts and firing at anyone who approaches the line.

Mohammad Khaled Abu al-Hussain, a 31-year-old father of five, lives just east of the line, in the Israeli-controlled zone, and says he is being shot at and monitored by drones.

– It doesn’t feel like the war is over to me. What’s the point of a ceasefire if I can’t even get home?

Yesterday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the division will not be permanent, but will only last until the upcoming international “stabilization force” disarms all of Gaza, according to AFP.