WASHINGTON — About 200 US troops will take part in a multinational force tasked with monitoring and helping implement the ceasefire in Gaza, US officials said Thursday, emphasizing that no American personnel will enter the enclave itself.

One senior official, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, said discussions on the exact deployment location are ongoing and expected to conclude Friday.

The troops will first establish a joint control center and later integrate with international partners “to deconflict with the IDF (Israeli army) and build the right force structure that’s able to handle the missions as they are defined,” the official said.

Adm. Bradley Cooper, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), will oversee the American contingent’s operations to ensure compliance with the ceasefire terms. “Much of this is going to be oversight,” another official noted.

According to reports in US media, the American troops will form the core of a task force expected to include military representatives from Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, and possibly the United Arab Emirates.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the troops — “already stationed under CENTCOM” — will work alongside other international forces to monitor the peace agreement.

The emerging coalition, referred to as the International Stabilization Force, will eventually support efforts to replace Israeli troops in Gaza along what officials call the “yellow line,” the area from which Israel is expected to withdraw under President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan.

Trump announced Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of his 20-point peace plan, which includes a ceasefire, the release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the enclave.

A second phase envisions a new governing mechanism for Gaza excluding Hamas, the formation of a joint Arab-Islamic security force, and large-scale reconstruction efforts funded by Arab and Islamic nations.

While Arab and Muslim countries have welcomed Trump’s plan, several officials cautioned that “many details still require discussion and negotiation” before full implementation can begin. — Agencies