The United States is reportedly planning to construct a large-scale military base near the Gaza border, according to a report published Tuesday. The proposed facility, estimated to cost $500 million, is purportedly intended to bolster the ceasefire agreement implemented last October.
According to the report, which cited unnamed Israeli officials, the base could accommodate thousands of troops. These sources suggest the construction of such a facility signifies a deeper American involvement in both Gaza and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The report further alleges that the military installation could potentially serve as a staging ground for an “international stabilization force”, supposedly to be established under a United Nations Security Council resolution and deployed to Gaza. Discussions regarding the plan have reportedly taken place between American officials and the Israeli government and military in recent weeks.
While a limited American military presence already exists, the construction of this base would mark the first large-scale US military facility in the region, signaling a heightened commitment from Washington to solidify stability following the recent conflict in Gaza. Currently, approximately 200 American soldiers are stationed at the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat, established after the ceasefire agreement took effect.
The construction of this military base would represent a significant escalation of American activity in the region. This development comes amidst steps that have already reduced Israel’s operational autonomy in Gaza, particularly concerning the coordination of humanitarian aid deliveries. The report highlighted statements from Israeli officials indicating that the coordination center is expected to assume “full control over the distribution of humanitarian aid” in Gaza, effectively marginalizing the role of the existing Israeli government coordination center.
The construction of such a costly American military base is likely to spark political debate in the United States, with many expressing opposition to expanding the American military footprint abroad.
