International security troops to be deployed to the Gaza Strip under a ceasefire agreement will have to be made up of countries with which Tel Aviv is “comfortable”, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday during a visit to Israel.
Rubio said the future of governance in Gaza still needs to be resolved between Israel and partner countries, but cannot include Hamas, adding that the potential role of the Palestinian Authority has yet to be determined.
The first phase of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point ceasefire agreement in Gaza was reached on October 10.
Since the ceasefire came into effect, the Israeli army has committed 80 violations and killed 97 Palestinians.
The first phase includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The plan also envisions the reconstruction of Gaza and the establishment of a new governance mechanism without Hamas.
Since October 2023, the Israeli genocidal war has killed more than 68,200 people and injured more than 170,300, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.