US to deploy 200 troops to assist Israeli troops during Gaza ceasefire

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
Today 10:16
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The US will deploy 200 troops to establish a coordination center overseeing Gaza ceasefire implementation, working with Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and possibly the UAE.

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United States Army soldiers walking along Constitution Ave., on the National Mall ahead of a parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary and coinciding with US President Donald Trump's 79th birthday, on June 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP)

US officials announced on Thursday that Washington will deploy up to 200 troops to Israeli-occupied territories to establish a special task force aimed at supporting "stabilization efforts" in the Gaza Strip, while emphasizing that no American soldiers will be stationed inside Gaza.

According to senior US officials, the mission will operate under US Central Command (CENTCOM) and will be structured as a Civil-Military Coordination Center responsible for facilitating the flow of what is being described as humanitarian and security assistance into Gaza following the recent ceasefire agreement.

Coordination with regional, international partners

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the deployed personnel will monitor the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire from "Israel", working in coordination with other international forces present in the area.

Officials added that the joint coordination center will include representatives from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and potentially the United Arab Emirates, to ensure regional and international synchronization during the implementation of the deal. The center will also coordinate directly with Israeli occupation forces and security agencies to avoid clashes during the sensitive early stages of the ceasefire.

A US defense official noted that the troops being deployed possess expertise in planning, logistics, engineering, and security, and will focus on ensuring smooth coordination and delivery of aid rather than engaging in combat or policing activities.

Broader diplomatic context

US President Donald Trump's administration expressed hope that the ceasefire agreement, brokered with strong US involvement, could reduce regional tensions and create an environment conducive to expanding the US-led Abraham Accords between "Israel" and Arab states, willing to normalize relations with the occupation.

Officials indicated that Trump, who previously brokered normalization agreements between "Israel" and Bahrain, the UAE, Morocco, and Sudan during his first term, is now seeking to extend such deals to include Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Mauritania, Algeria, Syria, and Lebanon as part of a wider strategy to protect US influence in the region.

Pentagon and White House officials have reiterated that US forces will not enter Gaza under any circumstances, claiming that the mission’s sole purpose is coordination, monitoring, and humanitarian facilitation in line with international and regional efforts.

The deployment marks the first direct US military role tied to the Gaza ceasefire agreement; however, the US has been involved in setting up the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, deploying anti-ballistic air defenses, and providing endless military, financial, and diplomatic support to the Netanyahu government.

Ceasefire deal reached

Earlier, Khalil al-Hayya, the chief Palestinian negotiator and top Hamas official, announced that an agreement had been reached to end the war and aggression against the Palestinian people, after two years of a brutal and ceaseless war that killed over 67,000 Palestinians.

Al-Hayya explained that the movement received guarantees from the mediators, which include Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, and the US administration. The top Hamas official said that all parties stressed that the war has ended completely.

Additionally, he revealed that the agreement includes the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 detainees from Gaza arrested after October 7, in addition to the release of all women and children held in Israeli prisons. The deal was reached after the Palestinian people resisted two years of genocide, culminating in renewed diplomatic efforts under the Trump administration’s 20-point plan aimed at securing a lasting ceasefire.

Talks were held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where intense negotiations between the two sides and mediators led to consensus on the first stage of the ceasefire framework. However, subsequent stages covering reconstruction, security arrangements, and governance remain under negotiation.