Up to 200 US troops already based in the Middle East will be moved to Israel to help monitor the ceasefire in Gaza, according to US officials.

The US military will establish a multinational taskforce in Israel, known as a civil-military coordination centre, which is likely to include troops from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the UAE, they said.

One senior official stated that no US forces will enter Gaza, emphasizing that the American role is primarily to create a Joint Control Center that will integrate the multinational force.

The Israeli government has approved the first phase of a Gaza deal with Hamas, which has led to a ceasefire and the release of hostages and prisoners.

The taskforce will be overseen by US Central Command (Centcom) and is intended to manage the ceasefire agreement's progress and assist in coordinating humanitarian aid.

The multinational force will provide updates to both the Israelis and Hamas through Egypt and Qatar, regarding the situation on the ground and any potential ceasefire violations.

This initiative follows discussions led by Adm Brad Cooper, head of Centcom, who participated in indirect talks in Egypt, aimed at negotiating the ceasefire.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had signed off on the first phase of a peace plan he proposed last week, which includes collaboration with Arab and international partners to deploy an International Stabilisation Force in Gaza, contingent upon completing a hostage and prisoner exchange.

The conflict escalated following Hamas's attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 individuals and the abduction of 251 hostages. In response, Israel's military action has led to the deaths of over 67,000 Palestinians in Gaza, as reported by the region's Hamas-run health ministry, with the UN recognizing these figures as credible.