The United States is sending 200 troops to Israel to help monitor and support the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, according to multiple news reports. Senior US officials said the troops will establish a civil-military coordination centre operated by US Central Command to facilitate humanitarian aid, logistical and security assistance into Gaza.
The troops are part of a broader team including partner nations, non-governmental organisations and private-sector entities. US service members have already begun arriving from around the globe and will continue over the weekend to plan and set up the centre. American troops will not enter Gaza, and the centre will be staffed by personnel with expertise in transportation, planning, security, logistics and engineering.
The ceasefire deal, announced by Donald Trump on his Truth Social network, includes a hostage-prisoner exchange freeing about 20 Israeli hostages and roughly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. However, Israeli strikes continued after the announcement, killing 30 people. Palestinians celebrated in the streets despite ongoing attacks.
More than 2 million people have been displaced in Gaza, and only 20% of needed aid has been delivered in recent months. The UN humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, called for all entry points to open to allow aid delivery at a much greater scale. The UN has roughly 170,000 metric tons of food, medicine and other supplies ready for distribution.
Since the war began, over 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, most civilians, and 169,000 injured. The conflict has devastated health systems, schools and food access, with at least 400 additional deaths from malnutrition. As Israeli forces withdraw, questions remain about stabilisation and reconstruction.
