Khaberni - After the UN Security Council adopted a US resolution that provides for sending an international stabilization mission to the Gaza Strip, Washington today plans to establish a military base on the borders of the war-torn city, in a move that would enhance the US military presence in the Middle East through the gateway of Gaza.
Since the establishment of Israel in 1948, the United States has granted Tel Aviv the status of "a major partner in the region," and there is a very strong relationship between the two countries, involving massive cooperation in various areas, and because of this Washington does not see the need to have its military base in the region.
Steps of US Presence in Gaza
But after the changes brought about by the events of October 7, 2023, interests have shifted. President Donald Trump adopted the "America First" slogan, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began proclaiming the "New Middle East" slogan. Due to this new orientation, Washington now needs a base in its new intervention areas.
During the term of former US President Joe Biden, the US military created a floating dock off the coast of Gaza, the declared goal of which was to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. However, Washington quickly discovered that the sea did not aid its positioning within the region, forcing them to dismantle it.
Under the new US administration, the United States has established a complete roadmap to enhance its influence in the Middle East and also through the gateway of Gaza, where President Trump announced that he wants Gaza to become an American state, then stating "We will take control of the Gaza Strip, we will seize that piece and develop it, we will create thousands and thousands of jobs, and it will be something the entire Middle East can be proud of. We will make it a homeland for the peoples of the world."
Subsequently, Trump announced the Peace and Prosperity Plan in Gaza, halted the war, and established the Civil Military Coordination Center, which deployed up to 200 US soldiers operating on the borders of the Strip.
The next step was the legislation by the Security Council to send a task and stabilization force inside Gaza. Finally, the United States plans to establish its military base in the Gaza Strip, a step that is unprecedented in the history of Israeli-American relations.
Military Base
According to available information, the United States decided, after the Security Council adopted the resolution to establish a global peace council concerned with Gaza and send an international stabilization mission in the Strip, to establish a military base near Gaza capable of accommodating 10,000 soldiers.
The Israeli news website "Shomerim" reports that America plans to establish a large military base in the Gaza area, among its tasks supervising the ceasefire and providing office space of 10,000 square feet. It will offer food, water, a reliable communication network, a medical clinic, and is capable of waste management and power generation, with an estimated cost of about $500 million.
The United States currently refuses to deploy its forces inside Gaza. However, in cooperation with the Israeli military, it began to study potential locations within the Strip for establishing the new military base.
Other Objectives of the Base
Besides being a military base, this step has other goals, among them to enhance US control over the management of the Strip and support the ceasefire and manage military and humanitarian operations in the Strip, and supervise the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza. The United States will take full control of aid management, while Israel will play a marginal role through the coordinator of government activities in the Palestinian territories, further enhancing the shared deterrent against any escalation, while keeping Israel the dominant partner on the ground.
In fact, the idea of establishing the military base was based on Trump's plan, which provided for forming an international force in the Strip and enabling reconstruction efforts to operate within the Strip, as clarified by Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for the US Central Command, who said, "The US military is working with international military partners to develop possible options for the deployment of international forces, which will be part of the international stabilization force in Gaza."
According to information, this military facility will serve as a shelter for the international force, as it can be used from the international stabilization force, which is supposed to deploy in Gaza at the beginning of 2026.
Shift in Influence Map
Israeli military analyst Amos Harel says, "The American steps planning to establish a military base in Gaza represent a deep strategic shift in the policies of both the United States and Israel, potentially leading to a redrawn map of influence and a shift in Washington's role in the region."
He adds, "The base will make the central American center responsible for activity in Gaza, with a declining stature of Israel as a main actor, despite Tel Aviv's efforts to limit international intervention in Palestinian territories, but this step means internationalizing the Gaza Strip."
Harel clarifies that the establishment of the base symbolizes Washington's determination to increase its direct impact in Gaza, despite its military presence in Israel being very limited, so this will be the first large-scale American military facility in Israel, representing an increase in Washington's commitment to establishing stability.
Dependency of Israel
Political researcher Azzam Abu Adas says, "Israel sees the military base as a security gain, representing a significant shift in the relations between the two sides, and provides protection for Tel Aviv from any Iranian threat, and gives Washington a free operating area without any obligations as Trump believes the land of Gaza belongs to no one."
He adds, "Despite these advantages, there is an Israeli team that sees in the military base an indication of the decline in the independence of Israeli decisions and its transformation into a tool at the hands of Trump, revealing the extent of Israel's political and military dependency on the United States."
Abu Adas explains, "Israel has always been keen to portray itself as a partner to the United States, not a dependent, but this base deepens the issue of dependency," but he points out that the military base has an impact on the map of alliances in the region, and will have a wide effect on the balance of alliances in the region."
Official Positions
Officially, White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt states, "The American administration has not yet approved the step of establishing a military base near Gaza, but so far, President Trump does not want to see American soldiers in the Middle East, to be clear no American forces will be deployed in Gaza at the current stage."
On the side of Israel, the spokesperson for the army, Nadav Shoshani, comments, "Nothing concrete has been established yet, we are working side by side with the Americans and various partners regarding the future of Gaza, and different ideas are being laid on the table."
As for "Hamas", the movement's leader Osama Hamdan states, "The movement will treat any force or military base that enters Gaza as an occupation force linked to Israel, the Gazans do not compromise on rights and constants."
