First publication: progress in the plan for an extensive change in the joint headquarters in Kiryat Gat

The Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat, which was designed to help preserve and promote the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, was established in October with great fanfare, but has since been criticized for its ineffectiveness and has been pushed to the margins of developments in the Gaza Strip. But now significant progress has been made in the plan for a fundamental change in the center’s activities and even in its name, including a meeting on the subject that took place this week, as we are reporting for the first time this evening (Thursday) on N12.

The renewed center is expected to be called the International Gaza Support Center (IGSC). Reuters reported last month that the center will be closed and a new center will be opened under this name, in practice the center will not be closed but will change its name and function, according to 3 diplomats privy to the details.

From a material point of view, the International Stabilization Force for Gaza (ISF) is expected to be much more significant in the work of the renewed center, and discussions regarding its establishment continue to progress. We are announcing for the first time from a regional diplomat who is familiar with the details that Vietnam and Georgia may also contribute soldiers to the new force and there is progress in the dialogue with them, and the issue is being discussed as part of the efforts to establish the new force. In addition, N12 learned that as part of the change, the number of representatives and countries that will take part in the discussions and procedures concerning the Strip is actually expected to be reduced.

The ISF is one of the key elements in Trump’s peace plan for the Gaza Strip. The force is supposed to be made up of soldiers from several different countries, and so far Greece, Morocco, Indonesia, Kosovo, Kazakhstan and Albania have officially announced that they are ready to contribute soldiers and progress has been made against them. The main role of the force, according to the UN resolution, is to assist in the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, to secure the border areas, to assist in humanitarian activities and to ensure that the ceasefire is maintained. The force is intended to work in coordination with Israel and Egypt.

One of the diplomats who spoke with N12 revealed that the diplomats working at the center were told that the change in it should be implemented during June, but it may be slightly delayed, and in any case it is expected to happen “in the near future”. The CMCC was established in October 2025, and included American-Israeli cooperation alongside representatives of dozens of countries who came to try and influence the future of Gaza. The center held several work teams on different topics.

The purpose of the changes presented is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the center, which until now has mainly focused on the humanitarian issue. Also, the measures are aimed at improving and regulating the connection and coordination between the center, which was established even before the ceasefire, and Trump’s Peace Council, which was established after him and is now responsible for the Gaza Strip.

A European diplomat who has taken part in the CMCC’s activities has sharply criticized its effectiveness so far. According to him, this is a body “horribly ineffective, with almost no actual effect on the reality in the Gaza Strip”. The same diplomat complained that the discussions held by the various working teams do not produce real results, and he mentioned Israel, the United States, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates as particularly influential players in the discussions regarding the future of Gaza.

Along with the changes planned in the near future and preceded this week, the regional diplomat who is familiar with the details estimated that there will be no significant change in the reality in Gaza until the elections, including the placement of the International Stabilization Force in the Gaza Strip. According to him, the political interest of the Israeli government is not to take such measures shortly before the elections, and at the same time, Hamas and the countries of the region are also waiting for the results of the elections in order to plan their actions the day after.

The Peace Council did not deny the report, and responded that the Council “continues to promote the plans to promote governance, security and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip, in order to optimize efforts and increase transparency. As the mission expands, the International Stabilization Force and the Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat are examining various models for closer coordination and integration between them. Currently, no reduction in manpower is expected. In addition, the Peace Council manages Contacts with other countries that may provide forces for the mission.”

There was no response from the Georgian and Vietnamese embassies.