200 US Troops Deploy to Israel to Manage Multinational Aid Coordination for Gaza Ceasefire
WASHINGTON D.C.: U.S. Vice President JD Vance confirmed on Sunday that there are “no plans to send ground troops to Gaza or Israel” in a combat capacity, as the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire and hostage-prisoner exchange is poised for implementation. Vance also indicated that Hamas could hand over the detainees “at any moment now,” underscoring the immediate gravity of the situation.
The Vice President’s statement aims to clarify the nature of an anticipated American military deployment, which will focus on coordination rather than direct engagement.
The clarification follows recent reports from multiple news agencies detailing the upcoming deployment. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is establishing a “Civil-Military Coordination Center” (CMCC) in Israel, which will be staffed by approximately 200 U.S. military personnel.
The Associated Press, citing U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, reported that these 200 soldiers would “help support and monitor the ceasefire agreement in Gaza as part of a team that includes partner countries, NGOs, and private sector entities.”
The mission of the CMCC, according to Reuters, which also cited senior U.S. officials, is to “facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid as well as logistical and security assistance to the war-torn territories,” confirming that there will be no U.S. presence on the ground in the Palestinian enclave.
The U.S. contingent will form the core of a special joint task force intended to ensure stability in Gaza following the two-year-long conflict, which the United Nations has described as causing tens of thousands of deaths and a humanitarian disaster.
According to a senior U.S. official cited by Reuters, this task force “will include soldiers from Egypt and Qatar,” and is also expected to include other regional and international partners. The 200 American troops, possessing expertise in security, logistics, and engineering, will “oversee the proper implementation of the Gaza agreement,” as reported by AFP, also citing U.S. officials.
The commencement of this stability effort comes as the first phase of President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza moves forward. Israel announced on Thursday that all parties involved had signed the final draft of this phase in Egypt, representing a key milestone toward ending the devastating war in the besieged Palestinian enclave.
