U.S. plans to construct $500M military base near Gaza border amid escalating tensions
The United States is advancing plans to construct a $500 million military base near the Gaza Strip, capable of housing several thousand troops, according to reports from Israeli media outlets Shomrim and Yedioth Ahronoth. The facility, intended to oversee ceasefire enforcement and humanitarian aid coordination, signals a major shift in Washington’s involvement in Gaza – one that could diminish Israel’s control over the besieged enclave.
The proposed base would serve as headquarters for an International Stabilization Force (ISF), a multinational coalition including troops from Egypt and Qatar, tasked with securing Gaza’s borders and preventing weapons smuggling. The move comes amid growing frustration over Israel’s restrictions on aid deliveries, which have left hundreds of thousands of Palestinians on the brink of famine.
The Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat, established recently, has already begun replacing Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories as the primary overseer of humanitarian operations in Gaza. Over 40 countries participate in the CMCC’s efforts, which U.S. Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins described as a means to “sort through fact from fiction and get a clearer understanding of what is occurring on the ground.”
Yet, despite Washington’s takeover, aid flow remains severely restricted. Gaza’s Government Media Office reports that only 28 percent of the agreed 600 daily aid trucks have entered the enclave since the U.S.-backed ceasefire took effect last month. Over 240 Palestinians have been killed during the so-called truce, highlighting the fragility of the agreement.
An Israeli official told Yedioth Ahronoth that the planned base represents “the first large-scale American military installation on Israeli territory,” underscoring Washington’s deepening commitment to Gaza’s post-war stabilization. The official added that the move “shows just how determined Washington is to be involved in Gaza and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” Michael Milshtein, a senior researcher at Tel Aviv University‘s Dayan Centre and former head of Palestinian affairs in Israeli military intelligence, meanwhile warned that Israel’s “status as the central player in the Strip is about to modify.”
Pentagon denies troop deployment inside Gaza
Despite reports of the planned base, Department of War officials insist no U.S. troops will enter Gaza itself. A senior defence official stated: “To be clear, no U.S. troops will be deployed into Gaza. Any reporting to the contrary is false.” However, the official acknowledged that planning is underway to station international troops near Gaza as part of the ISF, a key component of President Donald Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan.
The U.S. military presence near Gaza raises concerns over potential clashes between American forces and Israeli extremists, who have repeatedly attacked aid convoys. Recently, footage emerged showing Israeli civilians intercepting a food truck, dumping supplies and trampling them in a disturbing display of hostility toward humanitarian efforts.
A U.S. military presence in Gaza is concerning for several reasons, rooted in both historical context and contemporary geopolitical dynamics.
Historically, Israel has not hesitated to target U.S. assets when deemed necessary – most infamously during the 1967 USS Liberty attack, where Israeli forces killed 34 American sailors in an attempt to silence witnesses of alleged war crimes.
With famine looming and tensions escalating, the Trump administration’s strategy appears to be a gamble – attempting to restrain Israel while risking direct confrontation.
yogaesoteric
November 15, 2025