politics
US Closes Gaza Coordination Center
The Trump administration plans to close the Civil-Military Coordination Center in Israel, a U.S. military-run body tasked with monitoring the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and aiding Gaza. Responsibilities will transfer to an international security mission, reducing U.S. troop involvement.
May 1, 3:38 PM·3m read3 sources
The Japan TimesAudio version
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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.
