Share and Follow
The U.S. government is moving forward with plans to construct a massive new military base on the Israeli border with Gaza—a move that sharply contradicts promises to end American entanglements in the Middle East and is raising alarm among critics focused on U.S. sovereignty and security.
As reported by Israeli publication Shomrim and highlighted by Connor Echols of Responsible Statecraft, plans are afoot for a new U.S. military base in Israel. This facility, with an estimated cost of $500 million, would accommodate thousands of American troops, marking a substantial increase in the U.S. military’s presence in the region.
According to the Pentagon and diplomatic sources, this base is intended to support an international “peacekeeping” force focused on stabilizing Gaza after the conflict. However, its establishment would significantly widen the U.S. footprint near Gaza, and some reports suggest that the initiative might be managed more from Washington than by the United Nations.
Critics highlight a contradiction with former President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign promise to end “forever wars” in the Middle East. Annelle Sheline from the Quincy Institute voiced concerns to Responsible Statecraft, stating that creating a U.S. military base in historic Palestine contradicts the “America First” foreign policy Trump advocated. She cautioned that a permanent military presence could jeopardize U.S. troops and entangle the U.S. in Israel’s ongoing conflict with Palestine, potentially leading to a prolonged engagement in the region.
The Pentagon has refuted these claims, telling Responsible Statecraft that U.S. military personnel are merely collaborating with international partners to explore options for stationing international troops as part of a prospective International Stabilization Force. They clarified, “No U.S. troops will be deployed into Gaza. Any reports suggesting otherwise are incorrect.”
Despite official denials, preparations for this project seem to be progressing. American officials are scouting potential sites, while Israeli military sources, as reported by the Jerusalem Post, claim limited knowledge of the initiative. This has sparked speculation that the proposed U.S. base might serve American strategic aims more than it would contribute to regional peace efforts.
According to The Atlantic, parallel “Alternate Safe Communities”—massive housing projects for up to 25,000 Palestinians each—may be constructed on the Israeli side, gated and vetted by Israel’s Shin Bet intelligence. Contracts have reportedly been awarded, while the U.S. also ramps up its presence at a “coordination center” just outside Gaza.
In deeply critical on-air remarks, independent journalist Kim Iversen called out the project’s underlying motives: “There is a plan in the works right now—The United States, under the direction of Donald Trump…wants to construct a major base to send a message, not just to Gaza but to the entire region, that the U.S. military is here to stay.” She warned viewers, “This is a permanent occupation and a total betrayal of everything we were promised about getting out of Middle Eastern fights.”
Iversen added, “The establishment is lying to you about the purpose of this base. They want you to believe it’s about international peacekeeping, but the reality is this base would allow America to control the narrative and movement in and out of Gaza, and keep boots on the ground for as long as Washington wants.”
Reports indicate the multinational “peace force” would not fall under the usual U.N. chain of command, but instead be governed by a “Board of Peace” shaped by U.S. leadership, according to Jewish Insider—a further sign of Washington’s unprecedented direct control.
For America First advocates and anyone tired of endless foreign wars, the prospect of a permanent $500 million U.S. base on historic Palestinian land looks less like peacekeeping and more like a blank check to empire.