200 U.S. troops arrive in Israel to set up coordination center to monitor Gaza ceasefire

A U.S. force of 200 troops arrived in Israel in recent days to set up a military coordination center to oversee implementation of a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, ABC News quoted U.S. officials as saying.

Officials said the troops belong to units specialized in transportation, planning, logistics, engineering and security, and will work on coordination and planning to ensure the agreement is implemented, without participating in any combat missions.

Non‑combat mission
Sources said the soldiers, who were sent at the orders of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), will not enter Gaza; instead their role will focus on coordination and logistics with international partners, civil organizations and the private sector to help consolidate the ceasefire and ensure the flow of humanitarian aid into the Strip.

International coordination center
The planned coordination center to be established in Israel will be the first step toward an international mechanism to monitor the agreement, and would later include broader coordination among security and humanitarian actors involved in reconstruction and civilian support in Gaza.

Staggered arrival and direct oversight
The U.S. team’s arrival is expected to be completed over the weekend, with forces arriving on separate flights from the United States and other countries in the Middle East.
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, has been visiting Israel since Friday to oversee the establishment of the center.

Part of an international mechanism
The move is part of wider international efforts aimed at monitoring implementation of ceasefire agreements between Israel and Hamas, and ensuring humanitarian, security and engineering coordination on the ground, without involving U.S. forces in any military operations.