 "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a joint press conference with US President Donald Trump in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, DC. File image/Reuters")
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a firm statement on Sunday, stressing that Israel will not seek any external approval for its national security decisions, including military actions against its enemies.
“Israel is an independent state. We will defend ourselves by our own means and we will continue to determine our fate,” Netanyahu told a meeting of government ministers.
“We do not seek anyone’s approval for this. We control our security,” he said, after a week of high-level visits by US officials seeking to solidify the fragile Gaza ceasefire .
Netanyahu’s comments were a direct response to international discussions, particularly those involving the US, regarding the long-term stability and security arrangements in the Gaza Strip. He made it clear that Israel alone controls its security policy and will exercise its discretion when responding to or preempting attacks, citing recent actions in Gaza and Lebanon.
Who gets the final say on Gaza’s security force?
Netanyahu also addressed the proposal for an international security force intended to stabilise Gaza following the recent ceasefire. The force, expected to be composed largely of Arab and Muslim nations, is a key component of the US-brokered agreement.
The Prime Minister asserted that Israel will retain a veto over the force’s membership, stating, “We made clear with respect to international forces that Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us.”
He said Israel would reject any role for its regional rival, Turkey, in the security force. The comment reflects Israel’s determination to keep control of its own border security and not be seen as dependent on the United States.