November 13, 2025 | 02:02 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The White House denies reports that the United States plans to build a military base on the Gaza border.
"This article was based on a single piece of paper, an inquiry that somebody in the Department of Navy made about an idea that may happen in the future," White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday, as quoted by Anadolu.
"And this reporter deemed that as an official plan, and ran with a story that the United States is looking into it. I checked with the highest levels of the United States federal government," Leavitt added.
"This is not something the United States is interested in being engaged in ... it's not something we are currently involved in right now," she affirmed.
Earlier, the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, citing an unnamed Israeli official, reported that Washington was seeking to establish a large military base in the border area of Gaza. If true, the move would mark a "significant escalation in U.S. military activity in Israel."
The newspaper also mentioned that the $500 million project would be "the first large-scale American military installation on Israeli territory, underscoring a deepening U.S. commitment to post-war stabilization efforts in Gaza." The military base is said to house thousands of U.S. troops.
Leavitt emphasized that President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated his opposition to deploying U.S. forces in the Middle East.
"President Donald Trump has been very clear he doesn't want to see boots on the ground with respect to what's happening in the Middle East. We've made great peace, we've made great progress with the peace plan in Gaza and we want to continue to see that move forward," she stated.
Pentagon's Denial
The U.S. Department of Defense, or Pentagon, also denied the report. As reported by the Turkish media, Yeni Safak, senior Pentagon officials emphasized that, despite the planning of an international stabilization force, no U.S. troops will be placed in Gaza.
A senior official from the Department of Defense, speaking anonymously, stated that the U.S. military is working with international partners to plan potential stabilization forces near Gaza as part of a broader peace initiative.
However, the official explicitly stated, "To be clear, no U.S. troops will be deployed into Gaza. Any reporting to the contrary is false," in response to what they called inaccuracies by the Israeli media.
Currently, around 200 U.S. military personnel are stationed in Kiryat Gat, southern Israel. They are monitoring the ceasefire through the Civil-Military Coordination Center, which will oversee the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza.
The ceasefire, based on a plan supported by the U.S., includes stages of hostage release, reconstruction, and the formation of a new governance framework without Hamas, given that the conflict has resulted in over 69,000 Palestinian casualties in Gaza since October 2023.
However, since the ceasefire took effect, Israel has killed 242 Palestinian civilians and injured over 620 others. Israel has also destroyed over 1,500 buildings since the ceasefire agreement last month, as shown by satellite imagery released Wednesday by BBC Verify.
Editor's Choice: Satellite Images Show Israel Destroyed 1,500 Buildings in Gaza After Ceasefire
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Satellite Images Show Israel Destroyed 1,500 Buildings in Gaza After Ceasefire
2 jam lalu
The Israeli military has destroyed over 1,500 buildings in Gaza since the ceasefire agreement took effect last month
German Court Rejects Bid to Halt Arms Exports to Israel
6 jam lalu
A naturalized German citizen and his father in Gaza were seeking a court-ordered stop to German arms exports to Israel.
UN Food Agencies List 16 Areas at Risk of Famine
15 jam lalu
Two UN organizations are seeking to double their funding to prevent catastrophe, amid US cuts to international aid groups.
Israel Opens Aid Crossing in Northern Gaza
18 jam lalu
Following an outcry over inadequate aid being allowed into Gaza, Israel says it has opened a major crossing to the north of the Gaza Strip.
France and Palestine Form Joint Committee to Support Palestinian Statehood
22 jam lalu
President of France Emmanuel Macron and President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas have agreed to form a joint committee to strengthen the Palestinian state.
Northern Lights Might Appear in Your State and How to See It
1 hari lalu
The Aurora forecast indicates that 21 states are in for a treat with the celestial spectacle tonight, most visible from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Central Time.
Israel, US Reach Deal to Relocate 200 Hamas Fighters Trapped in Rafah
1 hari lalu
No direct comments have been made by the United States, Israel, or Hamas regarding the report.
Israel Rejects Turkish Role in Proposed Multinational Gaza Force
1 hari lalu
The Israeli government has affirmed that Turkish troops will not be part of the planned multinational force for Gaza.
Thailand Suspends Cambodia Peace Deal After Landmine Blast
2 hari lalu
A landmine injured two Thai soldiers on patrol near the border, endangering a peace agreement overseen by US President Donald Trump.
Thousands of Flights Cancelled as US Shutdown Drags Into 39th Day
2 hari lalu
The government shutdown has crippled thousands of flights across the U.S. This crisis now threatens both the economy and the holiday travel season.
