US Military Officials to Monitor Ceasefire in Israel

US military officials are set to arrive in Israel by Sunday to oversee the ongoing ceasefire arrangement with Hamas. This comes as part of efforts coordinated by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). A senior military source mentioned that they will establish a civilian military command center as the ceasefire progresses.

It’s worth noting that the military personnel involved include those deployed from the U.S. and others who are already stationed in the region. The majority are part of the Army, bringing expertise in areas like logistics, engineering, security, and transportation.

In a recent development, President Trump announced that Israel has agreed to what is termed Gaza’s “initial withdrawal line,” marking what he called the end of “3,000 years of catastrophe.”

Adm. Brad Cooper, head of CENTCOM, attended a meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, which featured discussions involving U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, a former adviser and Trump’s son-in-law. Following that, Cooper traveled to Israel, where he is currently present.

On Thursday night, the Israeli government approved and signed the first stage of a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, facilitated by President Trump. This initiated a 24-hour countdown for troops to withdraw to agreed positions.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later confirmed that they have begun preparations in anticipation of implementing the agreement. They stated that combat protocols and operational preparations are in place as they transition to the Coordinated Line of Deployment.

Hours afterward, the IDF officially confirmed that the ceasefire had commenced and that operational forces had been positioned along the latest deployment lines. Witkoff further reported that CENTCOM verified IDF’s first phase of withdrawal from Gaza, facilitating a ceasefire effective at noon local time. This also started a 72-hour window for Hamas to release hostages.

Witkoff suggested that a command center to oversee the ceasefire could be operational in about two and a half weeks. Interestingly, CENTCOM’s involvement in monitoring the ceasefire has been welcomed by the negotiating parties, as some involved in discussions noted it has provided much-needed reassurance.