US Sends Drones Over Gaza to Keep an Eye on Ceasefire
Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with US military personnel at the Civil-Military Coordination Center in southern Israel on Friday. (Fadel Senna/Pool Photo via AP)
The United States has begun using surveillance drones over Gaza to monitor compliance with the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, according to American and Israeli officials. Israel has approved the flights, which are part of an effort to provide the U.S. with an independent assessment of the situation on the ground.
The drone missions are coordinated through the new Civil-Military Coordination Center in southern Israel, established last week by U.S. Central Command. The center’s mission is to help facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and security assistance into Gaza, while also providing real-time oversight of the ceasefire, the New York Times reported.
Daniel B. Shapiro, who served as U.S. ambassador to Israel under Democratic administrations, described the monitoring effort as “intrusive.” “If there was total transparency and total trust between Israel and the U.S., there wouldn’t be a need for this,” Shapiro said. “But obviously the U.S. wants to eliminate any possibility of misunderstanding.”
The ceasefire—brokered by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt—has faced repeated challenges, including recent attacks and disputes over the exchange of bodies. A Pentagon spokesperson acknowledged that the truce remains “fragile,” emphasizing that the new coordination center enhances real-time communication and situational awareness in Gaza.
Several allied nations have joined the American-led effort, including Australia, France, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates, according to the Times of Israel. Jordan, the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, and Canada were already participating.
President Trump’s Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, toured the coordination center on Friday, noting that additional diplomats from partner nations will soon join American military officers at the facility. “We’re making progress,” Rubio said, “but there are going to be ups and downs and twists and turns along the way.”
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