A significant diplomatic friction has emerged between the United States and Israel following revelations of extensive Israeli surveillance operations at a US-led coordination center in southern Israel. According to a report by The Guardian, both American forces and international allies have raised serious concerns about Israel’s intelligence-gathering activities at the Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat, located merely 12 miles from the Gaza frontier.
The situation escalated to the point where US Army Lieutenant General Patrick Frank, commander of the CMCC, formally summoned his Israeli counterpart to demand an immediate cessation of all recording activities within the facility. The Israeli military has been conducting both overt and covert surveillance of meetings and discussions at the center, which was established on October 17 as the primary coordination hub for Gaza aid efforts.
While the Israeli military dismissed allegations of intelligence gathering on partners as ‘absurd’ and claimed documentation occurred through ‘transparent and agreed-upon manner,’ multiple sources confirmed that staff and visitors from various countries have been advised to avoid sharing sensitive information due to recording and potential leakage concerns.
The CMCC, operating from the former site of the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Fund, serves as an operations room for monitoring ceasefire implementation and assessing real-time developments in Gaza. Despite deploying natural disaster logistics experts to enhance aid flow, their efforts have been significantly hampered by Israeli restrictions on humanitarian access to the war-torn territory.
Diplomatic sources note that discussions at the CMCC have nevertheless produced some positive outcomes, including Israel’s relaxation of restrictions on previously barred items such as tent poles, water purification chemicals, and educational materials. The center hosts military planners from the UK and UAE alongside diplomats and humanitarian workers posted to Israel and occupied territories.
However, the exclusion of Palestinians from CMCC deliberations has raised additional concerns among diplomats and aid workers. Palestinian representatives from civilian organizations and the Palestinian Authority have been systematically excluded from planning discussions, with attempts at video participation reportedly terminated by Israeli officials. Critics argue this exclusionary approach, combined with the blending of military and humanitarian operations, may violate international law and lacks proper international mandate.