Khaberni - "Reuters" transmitted from informed sources that on Friday, the administration of the American President Donald Trump plans to close a center managed by the American military near the Gaza Strip.
Critics believe that the center has failed in its mission to monitor the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and to enhance the flow of aid to the besieged Palestinians.
The closure of the "Civil Military Coordination Center" in Israel will strike the latest blow to Trump's Gaza plan already undermined by repeated Israeli attacks since the ceasefire agreed upon in October, as well as Hamas's refusal to lay down arms.
Diplomats and officials said that this move, which has not been previously reported, underscores the difficulties facing American efforts to oversee the ceasefire and coordinate aid at a time when Israel controls more of Gaza's territories and Hamas tightens its grip on the areas under its control.
The International Stability Force taking charge
Seven diplomats familiar with the operations of the center led by the United States mentioned that its closure will happen soon, and its responsibilities related to aid and monitoring will be handed over to an international security mission planned to be deployed in Gaza under US leadership.
US officials described this move in private talks as a comprehensive reform, but diplomats stated that it would effectively lead to the center’s closure once the International Stability Force takes charge.
A diplomat familiar with the American plan mentioned that the number of US troops working in the International Stability Force would decrease from about 190 to 40 individuals. The diplomats added that the United States would seek to replace these soldiers with civilian personnel from other countries.
Diplomats say the "Civil Military Coordination Center" lacks the necessary authority to enforce the ceasefire or ensure aid delivery, making it unclear whether integrating it into the International Stability Force will have a significant practical impact on the ground.
An official at the Peace Council, which was established by Trump to oversee Gaza policies, declined to comment on the future of the "Civil Military Coordination Center," but said that the center plays a "critical role in ensuring aid delivery and coordinating efforts" and advancing Trump's plan.
Two sources mentioned that once the "Civil Military Coordination Center" is integrated into the International Stability Force, the center’s name is expected to be changed to the "International Gaza Support Center". It is likely that the center will be led by Major General Jasper Jeffers, the commander of the International Stability Force, who was appointed by the White House.
It was supposed that the International Stability Force would immediately deploy its personnel in Gaza to enforce control and maintain security, but this has not happened yet, as so far only a few countries have committed to send troops without assuming any security role. Meanwhile, Washington said it would not deploy American forces in Gaza.
However, the International Stability Force has established a walled annex within the "Civil Military Coordination Center", operating from a warehouse in southern Israel. Entry to the annex is strictly monitored by American forces.
The continuation of Israeli attacks
Establishing the "Civil Military Coordination Center" was a key element in Trump's 20-point plan regarding Gaza following the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which also aimed to allow rebuilding of the sector devastated by two years of fighting.
Dozens of countries, including Germany, France, and Britain, have sent personnel to the center, including military planners and intelligence officials, in an attempt to influence discussions on the future of Gaza.
But as Israel continues to launch attacks, diplomats say the momentum of the "Civil Military Coordination Center" has diminished. Hamas has resumed governance in a coastal strip of Gaza under its control.
One of the diplomats mentioned that some countries now send representatives only once a month. Another said that only a few countries regularly attend.
Israel says its attacks in Gaza aim to stop threats from Hamas or those approaching the ceasefire line. The Palestinians say it is a pretext to annex more Gaza land in an attempt to force them to leave.
More than 800 Palestinians and four Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire that was supposed to end the war that began on October 7, 2023.
During the war, Israel turned large areas of the Gaza Strip into rubble, displaced the majority of its population, and destroyed the infrastructure necessary for water and electricity supplies and for sanitation. The aim of the "Civil Military Coordination Center" was to help ensure the delivery of aid to those who need it. Diplomats say that aid levels have not yet seen a significant increase despite the flow of commercial goods into Gaza, as Israel bans many materials it says could have dual military and civilian uses. These materials include poles needed to set up tents in displacement camps and heavy machinery used in debris removal.
The Israeli Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories, the military agency that controls access to Gaza, said that 80 percent of the trucks entering Gaza daily carry commercial goods purchased in Israel to increase relief supplies.
An official at the Peace Council stated that Gaza ultimately needs what he described as "sustainable civil administration" to actually undergo a transformation away from relying on aid over the years and from periods of violence that have overshadowed its past.
