U.S. Troops to Arrive in Israel for Ceasefire Oversight
U.S. service members are set to arrive in Israel by Sunday to help monitor the ceasefire agreement with Hamas. These troops, part of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), will establish a civil military command center as the ceasefire takes effect, according to a senior U.S. official.
The contingent includes some soldiers from the U.S. and others who are already in the region. Most of these service members belong to the Army, and they possess expertise in logistics, security, engineering, and transportation.
In related developments, U.S. Navy Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads CENTCOM, participated in discussions in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, alongside U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, a former advisor to President Trump. After these talks, Cooper traveled to Israel.
The Israeli government has signed the initial phase of a ceasefire deal brokered by Trump, launching a 24-hour countdown for troop withdrawals to a designated position.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that they have begun preparations for the ceasefire. They stated that they are ready for any operational changes as they adjust to new deployment lines.
This morning, Witkoff indicated that CENTCOM verified the IDF’s completion of the first phase of its withdrawal from Gaza, enabling the ceasefire to officially start at noon local time. This also marks the beginning of a 72-hour period for Hamas to release hostages.
Witkoff expressed confidence in establishing a command center to oversee the ceasefire within a couple of weeks, a move seen as vital for building trust among the negotiating parties, which include Qatar and Turkey.
