US troops in Israel to monitor implementation of Gaza ceasefire

American troops will arrive in Israel by Sunday to oversee the implementation of the ceasefire with Hamas, Fox News has learned.

U.S. troops, all from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), will set up the civilian and military command center as the ceasefire unfolds, a senior U.S. official said.

Some soldiers come from the United States and others were already in the region. Most are in the army.

They are experts in logistics, security, engineering and transportation.

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Israeli soldiers stand near their tanks along the Israel-Gaza border, seen from southern Israel on Friday. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

No troops will enter Gaza.

Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, head of CENTCOM, participated in talks in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, a former White House adviser and son-in-law of President Donald Trump, a U.S. official confirmed.

Cooper then flew to Israel and is in the country.

The Israeli government approved and signed the first phase of the Trump-brokered ceasefire agreement in Gaza overnight Thursday, triggering a 24-hour countdown during which troops were to withdraw to a predetermined position.

Israeli soldiers along the Israel-Gaza border on Friday. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

“Following instructions from the political echelon and following assessment of the situation, the IDF has begun operational preparations ahead of the implementation of the agreement. As part of this process, preparations and combat protocol are underway for an upcoming transition to adjusted deployment lines. The IDF continues to be deployed in the area and prepares for any operational developments,” the IDF wrote on X.

Hours later, the IDF confirmed that the ceasefire had begun and that operations had been positioned “along the updated deployment lines.”

Witkoff said Friday morning that CENTCOM confirmed that the IDF had completed the first phase of its withdrawal from Gaza, allowing the ceasefire to take effect at noon local time, and that Hamas’ 72-hour deadline to release the hostages had begun.

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Israeli soldiers move near the Israel-Gaza border, as seen Thursday from southern Israel. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Witkoff reportedly told mediators he could have a command center to monitor the ceasefire put in place within two and a half weeks.

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CENTCOM’s role in monitoring the ceasefire with Qatar and Turkey has been of great comfort to the negotiating parties, according to people involved in the talks.

Rachel Wolf and Yonat Friling of Fox News contributed to this report.