US operates surveillance drones over Gaza to monitor Israel-Hamas ceasefire

The United States military is operating surveillance drones over the Gaza Strip to monitor the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, with Israel's consent, as part of a newly established Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in southern Israel. This center, opened by U.S. Central Command, supports stabilization efforts by facilitating humanitarian, logistical, and security assistance into Gaza without deploying U.S. personnel inside the enclave. The drone operations indicate Washington's desire for an independent assessment of the situation on the ground, separate from Israeli intelligence. The ceasefire, brokered by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, remains fragile amid ongoing tensions, including Hamas's failure to release the bodies of deceased hostages. U.S. officials view this monitoring as crucial to preventing misunderstandings and maintaining peace, with bipartisan support highlighting the historic nature and challenges of the mission. Both the U.S. State Department and the Israeli Defense Forces have declined to comment publicly on the surveillance missions.