Washington, D.C. – The U.S. is advancing a $500 million plan to construct a military base in Gaza along the edge of the Strip near the Israeli border, with site examinations already underway in recent weeks. The initiative, part of President Donald Trump’s broader Middle East peace strategy, aims to secure the region post-ceasefire and ensure Hamas’s disarmament. Sources indicate the base would house U.S. troops and advanced surveillance equipment to monitor compliance with the agreement, which includes hostage releases and Gaza reconstruction.

The plan, coordinated with Israel and mediators like Qatar and Egypt, marks a significant U.S. military footprint in Gaza, the first since the 1956 Suez Crisis. Trump’s administration views it as essential for “eternal peace,” countering Iran’s influence and preventing Hamas resurgence. However, critics, including some Democrats, warn it risks entangling America in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and escalating tensions.