Tel aviv: US troops are set to initiate operations at an Israeli military base to oversee the enforcement of a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, as reported by Israeli media.
According to Anadolu Agency, Israeli Channel 12 has disclosed that approximately 200 US troops will be stationed at Hatzor Air Base in southern Israel, forming part of a monitoring task force. However, there has been no immediate confirmation from US or Israeli authorities regarding this development.
An Israeli security official informed Channel 12 that a further withdrawal of troops from the Gaza Strip is not currently under consideration. Contrarily, another official mentioned that US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, along with his team, has begun drafting maps for a future withdrawal from the territory.
Witkoff shared on X that he, US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Admiral Bradley Cooper, and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner visited Gaza to assess Israel's compliance with Phase I of the ceasefire agreement. It was reported that Witkoff's visit aimed at evaluating deployment sites for a multinational task force consisting of troops from Islamic, Arab, and European nations.
This multinational force is expected to be positioned between urban areas from where Israeli forces will withdraw and Gaza's border with Israel. Channel 12 noted that no further withdrawal of the Israeli army will occur until the International Stabilization Force enters Gaza, with the deployment estimated to take several weeks.
The formation of this force is anticipated to be a topic of discussion at the upcoming Sharm el-Sheikh peace summit in Egypt. Arab countries are advocating for the UN Security Council to determine the force's mandate, whereas Israel opposes this, fearing it may limit its military operations.
The peace summit, co-chaired by Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, will host representatives from over 20 countries. The summit aims to conclude the conflict in the Gaza Strip, promote regional peace and stability, and initiate a new phase of security in the region, as stated by the Egyptian presidency.
Trump announced that Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of a 20-point plan he proposed on Sept. 29. This plan includes a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of Israeli captives in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, and a gradual Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza. The first phase was implemented on Friday.
The second phase involves establishing a new governing body in Gaza without Hamas, forming a multinational force, and disarming Hamas. Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have resulted in over 67,600 Palestinian deaths in the enclave, primarily women and children, rendering the region uninhabitable.