US Troops Deploy to Israel for Gaza Ceasefire Monitoring Mission

A deployment of United States troops has commenced in Israel as part of an international effort to monitor the implementation of a recently announced ceasefire in Gaza. According to reports from ABC News, this mission involves approximately 200 US military personnel.

The American contingent's primary role will be to establish and operate a coordination center tasked with overseeing the truce. US officials confirmed that the troops will focus on key support areas such as logistics, planning, and security. It was explicitly stated that these US forces will not operate inside the Gaza Strip itself; their activities will be confined to Israel under the command of US Central Command (CENTCOM) led by Admiral Bradley Cooper. They will be part of a broader team that includes military units from other nations in the Middle East.

This military deployment follows US President Donald Trump's unveiling of a 20-point peace plan. The agreement's initial phase aims to secure a ceasefire, facilitate the release of Israeli captives in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, and initiate a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza territory. A proposed second phase envisions a new governing structure for Gaza that excludes Hamas, the formation of a security force with Palestinian and international troops, and the eventual disarmament of the Palestinian faction.

The push for a ceasefire comes after a devastating period of conflict that began in October 2023. Palestinian authorities report that the Israeli military campaign has resulted in nearly 67,200 fatalities in the Gaza enclave, a significant number of whom were women and children, and has caused widespread destruction.