US military set to oversee Gaza transition under ceasefire deal

The US military command responsible for the Middle East will play a role in Gaza’s post-conflict transition once a peace agreement is finalised, officials confirmed on October 9. 

American forces are not expected to be deployed inside Gaza itself, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command (Centcom), will oversee a team of around 200 personnel stationed in the region as Israel and Hamas establish an international stabilisation force for Gaza.

The move is part of a broader 20-point plan proposed by President Donald Trump, aimed at ending the recent conflict, which includes the release of approximately 20 hostages to Israel. Trump is expected to travel to the region in the coming days to witness the handover.

Officials said Cooper’s role will focus on monitoring the situation and preventing any breaches of the ceasefire. The international force is expected to include personnel from Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, and possibly the United Arab Emirates, though the exact deployment locations of the US contingent have yet to be confirmed. Centcom is headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida.

Centcom’s involvement signals a more active US military role in the region, though it is not unprecedented.

Cooper’s predecessor, General Michael Kurilla, previously visited Israel to coordinate with its armed forces on strikes against Iran, and Centcom played a key part in Israel’s 2024 response to Iranian missile attacks.

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire and a hostage exchange as part of the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative to end the Gaza conflict. The agreement was signed in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, and will take effect once ratified by the Israeli cabinet.

Under the deal, hostilities will halt, Israel will partially withdraw from Gaza, and Hamas will release hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. Israeli forces are expected to begin withdrawing within 24 hours, with the release of remaining hostages scheduled for the coming days.

By Aghakazim Guliyev