US planning to establish military base in Gaza, Israeli media reports

The United States is planning to establish a military base in Gaza, news organisation Yedioth Ahronoth reported, citing an Israeli source. 

The news comes as the Turkish government is finalising plans that would result in the deployment of hundreds of soldiers to Gaza as part of an international peacekeeping force, as negotiations with the US and Israel continue on the issue. 

Sources familiar with the matter told MEE that a peacekeeping brigade, estimated to include at least 2,000 soldiers, has been drafting personnel from across the country in recent weeks.

The contingent, which would join the international stabilisation force in Gaza alongside other partner countries, is set to be made up of soldiers from multiple army branches with prior peacekeeping and conflict-zone experience.

The Gaza peace plan, brokered by US President Donald Trump, envisions Turkey as one of the lead countries to take over large swathes of territory in the Palestinian enclave from Hamas.