United States to deploy 200 soldiers to Israel due to Gaza, but without operations in the enclave

(Patria) - The United States will deploy up to 200 soldiers to Israel to establish an operational group to support stabilization efforts in Gaza, but they are not expected to be deployed in the Palestinian enclave, U.S. officials said, Reuters reported.

The U.S. military's Central Command will lead the operational group, known as the Civil-Military Coordination Center, or CMCC, one of the officials said.

The CMCC's task will be to facilitate the flow of aid into Gaza, including security and humanitarian assistance, officials said.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on social media that U.S. personnel will be responsible for monitoring the Gaza agreement in Israel and will cooperate with other international forces on the ground.

Two officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that U.S. troops will form the core of the CMCC, but it will also include representatives from the Egyptian army, Qatar, Turkey, and
likely the United Arab Emirates.

Officials said the joint control center will coordinate with Israeli forces and other security forces to avoid conflicts.

"No U.S. soldier intends to enter Gaza," one of the officials said.

One official said that the U.S. troops to be deployed will have expertise in planning, security, logistics, and engineering.

Officials said they hope that the Gaza agreement, once it comes into effect, will calm tensions in the region and create conditions for negotiations on further normalization agreements between Israel and Arab countries.

U.S. President Donald Trump, during his first term, brokered what are known as the Abraham Accords, normalization agreements between Israel and Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Sudan.

Officials said that Saudi Arabia is a candidate for such an agreement with Israel, as well as
Indonesia, Mauritania, Algeria, Syria, and Lebanon.