US establishes int'l command center on Gaza border to monitor ceasefire during VP Vance's visit

U.S. Vice President JD Vance announced the creation of a U.S.-led headquarters in southern Israel to oversee the Gaza ceasefire on Tuesday night, as part of his visit meant to help keep the shaky agreement on track. 

The opening of the headquarters comes just under one week after several nations endorsed President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza at a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. 

Vice-President Vance said that one week after the signing of President Trump’s peace plan, “things are going, frankly, better than I expected.” 

🇺🇸@VP Vance in Israel at the opening of the Civilian-Military Cooperation Center to begin the plan to rebuild Gaza and implement long-term peace based on President Trump's Peace Plan. pic.twitter.com/YJWIlp7QrD

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 21, 2025

“This is a very, very tough situation,” Vance admitted. “We’ve got a lot of work left to do. This is going to take a very, very long time.” 

Despite the presence of American forces in the headquarters, Vance said that no U.S. soldiers would be “on the ground” in Gaza. 

Speaking alongside the vice president was U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Admiral Brad Cooper, who said that the headquarters had begun operations on Oct. 17. 

The Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), which will serve as the main coordination hub for Gaza assistance and stabilization efforts, will involve a limited number of U.S. soldiers, who will stay in Israel and function in an advisory role, while coordinating with the IDF and representatives from partner nations. 

According to an announcement on CENTCOM’s website, the CMCC will monitor implementation of the ceasefire agreement, as well as coordinate aid and rebuilding efforts within Gaza. The headquarters contains office and meeting spaces for the representatives from the partner nations. 

The U.S. Central Command opened a Civil-Military Coordination Center in Israel, Oct. 17, marking the formal establishment of a main coordination hub for Gaza assistance five days after world leaders signed a U.S.-brokered plan to permanently end the war between Israel and Hamas.… pic.twitter.com/NyTn0ctHvA

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) October 21, 2025

“Bringing together stakeholders who share the goal of successful stabilization in Gaza is essential for a peaceful transition,” Adm. Brad Cooper said. “Over the next two weeks, U.S. personnel will integrate representatives from partner nations, non-governmental organizations, international institutions, and the private sector as they arrive to the coordination center.”

The visit of Vice-President Vance and the opening of the U.S.-led ceasefire headquarters demonstrate clearly that President Donald Trump is committed to ensuring the success of the ceasefire deal. 

The center, which opened in the southern town of Kiryat Gat (the biblical "Gath of the Philistines"), had flags from many of the partner countries, the U.S., Israel, Germany, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Jordan. 

Attempting to allay Israeli concerns over previous discussion of Qatari or Turkish forces being part of the international stabilization force, Vance also said that Israel would have to agree to the presence of any “troops on the ground.” 

“What troops are on the ground in Israel is going to be a question the Israelis have to agree to,” Vance said in response to a question by The Times of Israel regarding Turkish troops participating in the international stabilization force. “I’m sure that Prime Minister Netanyahu will have opinions about that.” 

Saying that “we think everybody has a role to play here,” Vance continued, noting that “some of that’s going to be financial, some of that’s going to be in reconstruction, some of that’s just in communication with the various parties to ensure that this deconfliction process actually works and is implemented.” 

“We’re not going to force anything on our Israeli friends when it comes to foreign troops on their soil,” he reaffirmed. “But we do think that there’s a constructive role for the Turks to play. Frankly, they’ve already played a very constructive role; we’re very grateful for that.” 

Israel and Turkey have seen a severe decline in relations over the past few years, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has increasingly spouted anti-Israel rhetoric. The relations have declined even more following the outbreak of the Gaza War. 

Vance also spoke of a “weird attitude” in American and Western media, which he said represents a “desire to root for failure every time something bad happens.”  

We have made incredible progress in our efforts toward peace in the Middle East.

With the world’s prayers, God’s providence, and the excellent team President Trump has assembled, we will get the job done. pic.twitter.com/5s5sIABX0q

— JD Vance (@JDVance) October 21, 2025

The vice president reiterated that the peace plan remains on track, noting that small setbacks are expected when working for peace between “people who hate each other, who have been fighting against each other for a very long time.” 

Vance referenced his Christian faith, saying that “Christians have many titles for Jesus Christ, and one of them is the ‘Prince of Peace.’” 

“And I’d ask all people of faith, in particular my fellow Christians,  to pray that the Prince of Peace can continue to work a miracle in this region of the world.”