Israeli analysts warn that the CMCC’s expanding authority signals a reduction in Israel’s direct control over Gaza‑related operations.
By Hezy Laing
The United States is examining plans for a second and significantly larger military facility near the Gaza border, expanding beyond the existing Civil‑Military Coordination Center (CMCC) already operating in the Kiryat Gat region.
The first CMCC, established in early 2024, currently hosts approximately 200 U.S. personnel and representatives from 40 countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Canada, Australia, Jordan, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates, and its official mission is to coordinate humanitarian aid and security logistics connected to Gaza.
The proposed second base would be built on a much larger footprint, with infrastructure designed to support several thousand American soldiers, a scale unprecedented in Israel since the 1960s.
Preliminary planning documents reviewed by Israeli journalists describe a facility capable of housing between 3,000 and 10,000 personnel, depending on operational needs, though U.S. officials have not publicly confirmed final numbers.
The official American explanation for the expansion is to support the emerging International Stabilization Force (ISF), a multinational body endorsed by the United Nations to oversee ceasefire enforcement, border monitoring, and humanitarian corridors around Gaza.
U.S. Central Command maintains that no American combat troops will enter Gaza and that the base’s purpose is logistical, intelligence‑sharing, and coordination with partner nations.
Israeli security officials quoted by Israel365 News argue that the scale of the planned facility suggests a long‑term presence, with construction estimates ranging from $400 million to $500 million, depending on final design and force size.
The projected duration of the base remains unclear, but analysts note that multinational stabilization missions typically last five to fifteen years, depending on regional conditions, raising concerns among some Israeli commentators about sovereignty and operational independence.
Dr. Michael Milshtein of Tel Aviv University’s Dayan Center stated that the growing American footprint reflects a shift in how Gaza‑related decisions are being coordinated, with some responsibilities already moving from Israel’s COGAT to the U.S.‑led CMCC.
Israeli officials are divided, with some welcoming deeper U.S. involvement as a stabilizing force, while others warn that a large foreign base on Israeli soil could limit Israel’s freedom of action in future conflicts.
As planning continues, the debate over sovereignty, security, and long‑term foreign military presence near the Gaza border is intensifying across Israel.
