US to shut Gaza ceasefire center as Trump plan stalls

The Trump administration is set to shut down the Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC), the U.S. military-run facility in southern Israel that served as the centerpiece of Washington's effort to oversee the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and coordinate humanitarian aid to Gaza, according to an exclusive report by Reuters citing seven diplomats familiar with the centre's operations.reuters

A Flagship Mission Winds Down

The CMCC, based in a warehouse in the city of Kiryat Gat, was established in October 2025 as part of the first phase of President Donald Trump's plan to end the Gaza war. Staffed by roughly 190 U.S. military personnel alongside civilian and military officials from allied nations, the centre was designed to monitor the ceasefire, facilitate aid deliveries, and shape post-war Gaza policy.wikipedia+2

Under the closure plan, the CMCC's responsibilities will be transferred to the U.S.-commanded International Stabilization Force (ISF) and the centre rebranded as the International Gaza Support Centre, led by U.S. Major General Jasper Jeffers. The transition would reduce the American footprint from around 190 troops to just 40, with Washington seeking to replace the remainder with civilian staff from other countries.ynetnews

Critics Question the Impact

Diplomats told Reuters that U.S. officials have privately characterized the move as an overhaul, but several said it would effectively shutter the centre. The CMCC had already been losing momentum as allied countries scaled back participation, and Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich publicly called for its dismantling as early as January. In April, Israel blocked Spain from participating in the centre's work.timesofisrael+3

Critics say the CMCC lacked authority to enforce the ceasefire or ensure aid reached Palestinians, raising doubts about whether folding it into the ISF would change conditions on the ground. The ISF itself has struggled to gain traction — only a handful of countries have pledged troops, none for security roles, and Washington has said U.S. forces would not deploy inside Gaza.ynetnews

Broader Setbacks for Trump's Gaza Strategy

The closure comes as Trump's broader Gaza plan faces mounting obstacles. Repeated Israeli military strikes since the October 2025 truce and Hamas's refusal to disarm have undermined the ceasefire framework the CMCC was meant to uphold. The U.S.-led rebuilding effort has been effectively on hold since Washington launched its joint military campaign with Israel against Iran.usnews+1

An official with Trump's Board of Peace, the body overseeing Gaza policy, declined to comment on the CMCC's future but said the centre plays a "critical role in ensuring aid deliveries and coordinating efforts". Three diplomatic sources also noted that within the CMCC compound, U.S. troops regularly denied allied representatives access to a walled-off ISF annex, fueling frustration among partner nations.ynetnews