US Closes Gaza Coordination Center

This U.S. military-run body was established to monitor the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and facilitate aid to Gaza. Multiple diplomats confirmed the shutdown, marking a setback for President Donald Trump's Gaza plan. The CMCC's responsibilities will transfer to the U.S.-commanded International Stabilization Force (ISF), according to seven diplomats.

U.S. troop numbers at the revamped ISF will drop to 40 from about 190. The U.S. will seek civilian staff from other countries to replace them.

The CMCC, operating from a warehouse in southern Israel, will be rebranded as the International Gaza Support Centre under the ISF. It will likely be led by U.S. Major General Jasper Jeffers, the White House-appointed ISF commander. Access to a walled-off ISF annex inside the CMCC has been tightly controlled by U.S. troops, with reports of denied entry to allied representatives.

Diplomats stated that the CMCC lacked authority to enforce the ceasefire or ensure aid delivery. It remains unclear if integrating it into the ISF will improve outcomes on the ground. The ISF was intended to deploy to Gaza for security but has not done so, with only a few countries pledging troops and none committing to security roles.

Washington has stated that U.S. troops will not deploy to Gaza. The Board of Peace, overseeing Gaza policy, denied that the CMCC is closing in a social media statement. A Board of Peace official said the center plays a critical role in aid deliveries and coordinating efforts.

The war began with the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel. Israel reduced much of Gaza to rubble, displacing nearly all of its 2 million residents and damaging infrastructure for water, sanitation, and electricity. Since the ceasefire, more than 800 Palestinians and four Israeli soldiers have been killed.

Israel has conducted repeated attacks, seizing more Gaza territory, while Hamas has refused to lay down arms and reassumed governance in a coastal area under its control. Israel states these attacks target threats from Hamas or those approaching the armistice line.

Aid levels have remained largely stagnant despite an influx of commercial goods. Israel bans items with potential dual military and civilian uses, such as tent poles and heavy machinery for rubble clearance. COGAT, the Israeli military agency controlling Gaza access, said 80% of daily trucks carry commercial goods purchased in Israel to supplement humanitarian supplies.

Dozens of countries, including Germany, France, Britain, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, sent military planners and intelligence officials to the CMCC to influence Gaza's future. Some nations now send representatives only once a month, with attendance dropping to a handful of countries.

Diplomats attribute the faded momentum to ongoing Israeli attacks and Hamas's strengthened grip. The shutdown could increase unease among U.S. allies, who were encouraged to deploy personnel and commit funds to the Gaza rebuilding plan. That plan is effectively on hold since the U.S. launched its joint war with Israel against Iran.

A Board of Peace official stated that Gaza needs a sustainable civilian administration to end aid dependency and cycles of violence. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the CMCC in southern Israel last October. The center's establishment followed the truce meant to enable Gaza's rebuilding after two years of fighting.

The White House and U.S. military's Middle East command referred comment requests to the Board of Peace.

Ongoing Difficulties in U.S.

efforts to oversee the truce and coordinate aid. Israel has pushed its armistice line deeper into Gaza. Palestinians state that Israeli attacks are a pretext to subsume more land sought for a future state. The transfer to ISF represents what U.S. officials privately call an overhaul.

However, diplomats view it as effectively ending the CMCC's role. No practical ground effects are guaranteed from the change.