Informed sources revealed the Trump administration's intention to close the civil-military coordination center overseen by Washington near the Gaza Strip. This move comes amidst widespread criticism directed at the center for its failure to monitor the truce agreement and ensure the effective flow of humanitarian aid to the besieged population.
The sources explained that the current direction is to transfer the center's tasks to a new international security mission led by the United States, which represents a comprehensive restructuring of the American role on the ground. These changes are expected to end the current format of the center, which was established as part of Trump's previous vision for dealing with the Strip's issues.
In a related context, diplomats indicated that the plan includes a sharp reduction in the number of American forces participating in the international force, with the number to be reduced from 190 personnel to just 40. This shortage will be compensated by bringing in civilian employees from other countries, amidst a noticeable decline in the enthusiasm of some participating countries that have withdrawn their experts and representatives.
For its part, the so-called 'Peace Council' denied the circulating news about the closure of the center, describing them as false claims not based on reality. The Council claimed in a post that the center continues its daily work to provide humanitarian aid at unprecedented levels, claiming an improvement in the food situation in the Strip based on international reports.
On the ground, UN reports confirmed that the Israeli occupation army expanded its control within the Gaza Strip by establishing the so-called 'Orange Line'. This new line falls within the scope of the 'Yellow Line', which already covers about 53% of the Strip's area, reducing the available areas for Palestinians and confining them to very narrow areas.
The 'Yellow Line' was considered a hypothetical boundary to which the Israeli army was supposed to temporarily withdraw under the ceasefire agreement, but recent updates to military maps show further encroachment on land. These measures have hindered the work of international relief organizations that rely on these maps to determine their movement routes.
Amidst these developments, medical sources recorded the martyrdom of more than 800 Palestinians since the ceasefire agreement came into effect due to continuous violations. Humanitarian aid continues to face strict Israeli restrictions, especially concerning materials classified by the occupation as 'dual-use', exacerbating the living crisis.
Hamas, for its part, accused the occupation authorities of extending the 'war of extermination' through daily violations of the ceasefire agreement, which has been signed for more than 200 days. The movement affirmed in an official statement the commitment of Palestinian factions to all provisions, including the delivery of prisoners and bodies according to agreed timelines.
The movement stressed that Israel breached its commitments by continuing military operations and killing hundreds of civilians in cold blood, in addition to tightening the siege and closing vital crossings. It also pointed to the occupation's deliberate movement of the 'Yellow Line' westward in several areas, which represents an explicit re-occupation of areas that were supposed to be evacuated.
Observers believe that the erosion of the effectiveness of international coordination mechanisms is due to these centers lacking the necessary powers to enforce a ceasefire on the ground. With the continuation of Israeli operations, doubts are growing about the usefulness of American promises not to deploy forces inside Gaza, in the absence of any real pressure to stop military expansion.
These shifts in the American position and Israeli movements reflect a new phase of ambiguity surrounding the future of the Gaza Strip and its reconstruction. While Washington talks about security restructuring, Israel continues to impose a new geographical reality that ends any chance for actual stability or the return of displaced persons to their original areas.
The center will be closed soon, with its tasks transferred to an international security mission led by the United States as part of a broader restructuring.
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Trump administration moves to close military coordination center in Gaza amid Israeli settlement expansion