US plans to build $500M military base near Gaza border to "oversee ceasefire"

• The US plans a $500 million military base near Gaza to monitor the ceasefire.

The United States plans to build a USD 500 million military base in Israel near the Gaza border to oversee the implementation of the ceasefire agreement in the Palestinian enclave, 'Israeli' media reported on Tuesday.

According to Yedioth Ahronoth, citing unnamed 'Israeli' officials, Washington aims to establish a large military installation in the border area, a move described as “a significant escalation of US activity in Israel.”

The facility would host an international task force formed under the Gaza ceasefire agreement to monitor the truce inside the enclave. Several thousand US troops are expected to be stationed there, the report said.

If confirmed, it would mark the first large-scale American military installation on 'Israeli' soil, underscoring Washington’s deepening involvement in post-war stabilization efforts in Gaza.

During 'Israel’s' two-year war in Gaza, the US deployed a THAAD missile defense system that participated in intercepting Iranian missiles and drones during a 12-day conflict, the paper added.

“The establishment of an American base on Israeli soil shows just how determined Washington is to be involved in Gaza and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” an 'Israeli' official told Yedioth Ahronoth.

Several US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, have previously stated that there would be “no American boots on the ground in Gaza.”

Currently, about 200 US military personnel are stationed at the US-backed Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat, southern 'Israel', which monitors the ceasefire. 'Israeli' sources said the CMCC is expected to take control of humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza, replacing Israel’s COGAT mechanism.

The newspaper did not specify the location of the planned facility, noting that surveys for potential sites are underway. There has been no immediate comment from Washington or Tel Aviv on the report.

The Gaza ceasefire, which took effect on October 10 under a 20-point plan by US President Donald Trump, includes the release of 'Israeli' captives in exchange for Palestinian detainees, reconstruction of Gaza, and the establishment of a new governing body without Hamas.

Since October 2023, 'Israel’s' war on Gaza has killed more than 69,000 people and wounded over 170,600, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.