JERUSALEM, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel would not seek permission to launch strikes in Gaza or Lebanon, even after agreeing to ceasefire arrangements.

"Israel is an independent state. We will defend ourselves with our own forces, and we will continue to control our destiny," Netanyahu told ministers at the start of his weekly government meeting.

"We do not seek anyone's approval for this. We control our security," he added.

Referring to plans for the deployment of international peacekeeping forces in Gaza, Netanyahu said Israel would decide which countries could deploy troops there. "We have made it clear that Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us, and we will continue to act accordingly," he said.

His remarks followed a week of a diplomatic blitz of visits by senior White House officials aimed at reinforcing the fragile ceasefire in Gaza. ■