Gaza Herald _The Guardian has revealed that Israeli intelligence operatives have been conducting extensive surveillance on American forces stationed at a newly established base responsible for monitoring the Gaza ceasefire.
According to the report, the discovery sparked a sharp response from the head of the U.S. base, General Patrick Frank, who summoned his Israeli counterpart and delivered a direct warning, telling him: “The recording stops here.”
This intervention came after Israel is believed to have collected intelligence on U.S. personnel working inside the Security Coordination Center, the joint facility tasked with overseeing the ceasefire in Gaza. Staff members and international visitors raised concerns that Israel was secretly recording activities inside the center, prompting some to avoid discussing sensitive information for fear that it could be intercepted and misused.
The U.S. military declined to comment on reports of Israeli surveillance efforts. The Israeli army also refused to address General Frank’s demand to end the recordings, insisting that conversations inside the facility are not formally classified.
The coordination center was established last October to oversee the ceasefire, coordinate humanitarian aid, and develop proposals for Gaza’s future in line with a 20-point plan proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump. The center operates from a multi-story building in the industrial zone of Kiryat Gat, roughly 20 kilometers from the Gaza border.
The report comes against the backdrop of Israel’s long-standing restrictions on humanitarian supplies entering Gaza. Over the past year, Israel has repeatedly blocked or delayed shipments of food, medicine, and essential goods. This summer’s full blockade pushed large parts of Gaza to the brink of famine.
Despite the ceasefire having been in place for two months, Washington maintains significant leverage in Gaza policy. However, Israel still exercises full control over the perimeters of the Strip and the flows of goods entering it, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter.
American personnel stationed at the center include experts in disaster response and specialists trained in securing supply routes in hostile environments. Diplomats noted that discussions held inside the center have been crucial in pushing Israel to adjust its list of banned or restricted items, allowing access for materials such as tent poles or chemicals needed for water purification.
Yet other basic items, including pens and paper required to restart schools, remain inexplicably barred from entering Gaza.
The center brings together military planners from the United States, Israel, and several allied nations including the UK and the UAE. Notably absent are any representatives from Palestinian civil society, humanitarian organizations, or the Palestinian Authority, highlighting once again how decisions about Gaza’s future continue to be made without the participation of the Palestinian people themselves.
