Israeli surveillance targets US and allies at joint base planning Gaza aid and security

Defence affairs ~ Emma Graham-Harrison in Jerusalem

Israeli operatives are conducting widespread surveillance of US forces and allies stationed at a new US base in the country’s south, according to sources briefed on disputes about open and covert recordings of meetings and discussions.

The scale of intelligence gathering at the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) prompted the US commander of the base, Lt Gen Patrick Frank, to summon an Israeli counterpart for a meeting to tell him that “recording has to stop here”.

Staff and visitors from other countries have also raised concerns about Israel recording inside the CMCC. Some have been told to avoid sharing sensitive information because of the risk it could be collected and exploited.

The US military declined to comment when asked about Israeli surveillance activities. The Israeli military declined to comment on Frank’s demand to halt recording and noted that conversations inside the CMCC are unclassified.

“The IDF documents and summarises meetings in which it is present through protocols, as any professional organisation of this nature does in a transparent and agreed upon manner,” the Israeli military said in a statement.

“The claim that the IDF is gathering intelligence on its partners in meetings which the IDF is an active participant is absurd.”

The CMCC was set up in October to monitor the ceasefire, coordinate aid and draw up plans for Gaza’s future under Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to halt the war. Giant copies of that document are on display around the building

Soldiers stationed there were tasked with supporting an increase in essential supplies into Gaza, which formed part of the agreement.

Israel has regularly restricted or prevented shipments of food, medicine and other humanitarian goods into Gaza. A complete siege this summer tipped parts of the territory into famine.

When the CMCC began operations, US and Israeli media reported that Israel was ceding authority over what entered the territory to the US military.

Two months into the ceasefire, Washington has considerable leverage but Israel retains control of Gaza’s perimeter and what enters the territory, according to one US official.

“We didn’t take over [aid],” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “It is an integration. It is hand in glove. They ([The Israelis] remain the hand, and the CMMC have become the glove over that hand,” the official said.

Among the US forces deployed to the CMCC were logistics experts experienced in navigating natural disasters or trained to find supply routes through hostile terrain.