US Military Base In Southern Israel? Prophetic Implications

There has been an astounding new twist in the wake of the Israel-Gaza war and the current ceasefire. There are credible reports that the United States is considering constructing a massive military base in southern Israel to oversee the ceasefire and implementation of the Trump administration-brokered 20-point peace plan. The projected cost of this military installation is a whopping $500 million.

This is an unprecedented development for the United States, Israel, and the Middle East--and it has regional, geopolitical, and, I believe, prophetic implications.

Many people may not realize that the United States already has a powerful military presence in the Middle East. There are approximately 40,000 to 50,000 US troops scattered across 19 sites in the region.

Bahrain is home to the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet. In Qatar, there is a 60-acre air force base in the desert outside the capital of Doha, which is the Middle East's largest US base, housing about 10,000 troops. Several sprawling military installations are located in Kuwait. There is an air base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), south of the capital, Abu Dhabi. In Iraq, the US maintains a presence and air base in the western Anbar province and in the country's north. Roughly 2,500 US troops are in Saudi Arabia, and the US Air Force has its central 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing in Jordan.

Approximately 200 US military personnel are currently stationed in southern Israel, monitoring the ceasefire. Eventually, they intend to take charge of the humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza.

While an American presence in the Middle East is nothing new, should the administration carry out its reported plans, it would mark the first time in history that the United States has constructed a large-scale military facility in Israel.

While no physical dimensions have been disclosed for the base as a whole, the Jerusalem Post reported that it will be a "large facility," projected to contain 10,000 square feet of office space.

"According to reports, part of the purpose of the base would be to enhance the US's ability to directly control events on the ground and to be less reliant on Israeli cooperation in dealing with diverse parties, whether Hamas, Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, or other third parties assisting in managing Gaza," the Jerusalem Post detailed.

The proposed locations in southern Israel are reportedly near the Gaza border.

"A senior Pentagon official maintained Tuesday that 'no US troops will be on the ground in the Gaza Strip,' but acknowledged planning is underway to base international troops near the Palestinian territory," Bloomberg reported. "The official said reports circulating in Israeli media are inaccurate, but he did not offer specifics. Still, the official said that as a planning organization, US military personnel are currently working with international military partners to develop potential options for basing international troops that are part of a future international stabilization force."

An international stabilization force (ISF) is a critical part of the ceasefire agreement.

Bloomberg continues, "The ISF's formation will support the president's Gaza peace plan. The official who commented on the matter on condition of anonymity said in a statement, 'To be clear, no US troops will be deployed into Gaza. Any reporting to the contrary is false.'"

"The project would be the first large-scale American military installation on Israeli territory, underscoring a deepening US commitment to post-war stabilization efforts in Gaza," the article further noted.

The international stabilization force will be a multinational peacekeeping force. Egypt, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates have been named as countries that could contribute to this force. Other nations have also shown interest in sending troops to be part of the ISF, including Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Australia, Malaysia, Canada, France, and Cyprus.

The stabilization force will be under the authority of a "board of peace" that is being established, with President Trump at the head.

According to the Middle East Eye, "The Turkish government is finalizing plans that would result in the deployment of hundreds of soldiers to Gaza as part of an international peacekeeping force."

While Turkey is bound and determined to be a part of the ISF, Israel soundly rejects those plans, underscoring that there "will be no Turkish boots on the ground" in Gaza.

Turkey's desired involvement should be fascinating to those who understand Biblical prophecy. Turkey is one of the nations listed as part of the Gog-Magog coalition of nations detailed in Ezekiel 38--alongside Russia, Iran, and others.

Turkey, an outspoken enemy of the Jewish State, continues to involve itself deeply in the affairs of Israel and the surrounding nations.

While Russia and Iran have a lessened influence now in Syria, with the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Turkey has moved into that vacuum, taking a lot more authority in the nation right on Israel's northern border. Should Turkey have boots on the ground in Gaza, it would also give it troops on Israel's southwestern border.

Obviously, this international stabilization force is significant, as is the possibility of a huge US military facility in southern Israel. If constructed, there is no doubt that it would be a game-changer in the Middle East.

According to Newsweek, "The U.S. military has denied reports that it plans to build a $500-million base near Gaza, emphasizing that no American troops will be deployed to the territory as part of ongoing efforts to support a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas."

One thing's clear: America is not going to have boots on the ground. At this stage, it makes sense for the United States not to confirm plans for a military base. Israel will have to be consulted, and the Netanyahu government has not yet given approval. Reports indicate that negotiations are currently in the works with Israel to get the green light.

Time will tell if a base is constructed. It seems to me that something will have to be built to house the International Stabilization Force--and it is unlikely that it will be within Gaza.

The construction of this large military complex in Israel would be a massive first for the United States and for Israel. You could say that Israel would almost be farming out or subcontracting its defense to keep this ceasefire, offloading some of its security. That would mark a major turning point.

The Bible tells us in the end times that Israel will put its security into the hands of outsiders. According to Daniel 9:27, Israel in the future will come to an agreement with the Antichrist, one that will seem to guarantee a long period of peace. We also know from Scripture that it will be a counterfeit peace. The Antichrist will break that seven-year treaty at the midpoint.

What we see happening right now in the wake of this war in Gaza could be a significant first step toward Israel being more open to outside forces securing its peace. All of this could be a striking foreshadow of the Antichrist covenant. It's a kind of an initial conditioning, if you will, or a new emerging willingness to accept others' help in guaranteeing Israel's security.

In Ezekiel 38, we read of a coalition of nations that will attempt an invasion of Israel during a time in which the Jewish State is at rest. Israel will one day let down her guard, paving the way for this war detailed in Scripture.

Originally published at Harbinger's Daily