The United States is set to deploy around 200 military personnel to Israel, a move designed to help oversee the ongoing ceasefire in Gaza. These troops, already stationed in the Middle East, will form part of a multinational taskforce, according to US officials.
This newly established civil-military coordination center will integrate forces from various nations, including Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. U.S. officials clarified that American troops will not be entering Gaza itself, but will operate from Israel to create a “Joint Control Center” that facilitates the multinational effort.
This development follows the Israeli government’s approval of the initial phase of a peace agreement with Hamas, which has already led to a ceasefire and the exchange of hostages and prisoners. The taskforce, under the command of US Central Command (Centcom) head Adm Brad Cooper, is tasked with monitoring the ceasefire’s progress and coordinating humanitarian aid efforts.
The multinational force will relay crucial updates on the ground situation and any potential truce violations to both Israeli and Hamas leadership through intermediaries in Egypt and Qatar. The plan for a temporary International Stabilization Force in Gaza, as outlined in a recent peace proposal, is contingent on the successful completion of hostage and prisoner exchanges between the parties.
The conflict began following Hamas’s attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and the taking of 251 hostages. Israel’s subsequent military operations in Gaza have led to a significant number of casualties, with health authorities in the territory reporting over 67,000 Palestinian deaths, including more than 18,000 children, according to UN-verified figures.