The U.S. is reportedly sending about 200 troops to Israel on Thursday to help monitor the ongoing ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, according to the Associated Press.
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday on Truth Social that Israel and Hamas formally agreed to the first phase of a U.S.-backed peace plan. U.S. officials told AP News that the U.S. Central Command will establish a “civil-military coordination center” in Israel to assist with humanitarian aid, along with logistics and security efforts in the territories destroyed by the war.
The roughly 200 service members staffing the center will specialize in transportation, planning, security, logistics and engineering, according to the AP News. The center will also include troops from other foreign militaries, and no U.S. troops will be deployed to Gaza, the outlet reported.
With the deal approved by Israel’s cabinet Thursday, the Israeli military is expected to withdraw to an agreed-upon line in the Gaza Strip, according to Reuters. The withdrawal is expected to take fewer than 24 hours, after which Hamas will have 72 hours to release the hostages, the outlet reported.
“The government has just now approved the framework for the release of all of the hostages – the living and the deceased,” Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s X account posted in response to the approval.
With additional phases of the deal expected, Trump said during a Fox News interview Wednesday that the remaining hostages held by Hamas, both dead and alive, will “probably” be released by Monday.
While reports differ on the exact numbers, Reuters reported Thursday that 26 hostages are presumed dead, 20 are still alive and two remain unconfirmed.
The agreement between Hamas and Israel comes days after Hamas announced Friday that it would tentatively agree to release all remaining hostages and relinquish power under Trump’s proposed ceasefire agreement.
(Featured Image Media Credit: Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)
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