Is US sending troops to Israel to monitor Gaza ceasefire deal? White House clarifies, says ‘to be clear…’
The White House on Friday clarified reports claiming that the United States was sending troops to Israel to oversee the peace deal between Israel and Hamas. Some news agencies, quoting unnamed officials, had said that around 200 US soldiers were being sent to Israel and that the US Central Command (CENTCOM) would set up a “civil-military coordination center” there. Fox News also reported that the troops would help support the peace agreement.
However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt quickly denied those claims, saying the reports were “not true” and “taken out of context.” She explained that about 200 US personnel, who are already part of CENTCOM, will only help monitor the peace deal in coordination with other international forces already present in Israel.
“This is NOT true and taken out of context,” Leavitt wrote. “To be clear: up to 200 U.S. personnel, who are already stationed at CENTCOM, will be tasked with monitoring the peace agreement in Israel, and they will work with other international forces on the ground.”
According to Reuters, the US troops will lead the new Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), which will also include military officials from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and possibly the United Arab Emirates. However, officials made it clear that American forces will not enter Gaza.
They added that once the Gaza peace deal begins, it could help reduce tensions in the region and open the door for more talks between Israel and Arab countries.
After two years of intense fighting that caused a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Israel and Hamas agreed on Thursday to a pause in the conflict. In the first stage of the ceasefire, the remaining hostages will be freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Israel confirmed that all parties have signed the first phase of the agreement, which is based on a 20-point peace plan for Gaza announced last month by US President Donald Trump.
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