Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Monday urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to shut the U.S.-led Civil Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat, a multinational hub coordinating post-war planning for Gaza under President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan.
The CMCC, established last October, brings together civilian and military staff from the United States, Israel and dozens of other countries to coordinate humanitarian aid and reconstruction planning for Gaza. U.S. Central Command said in December that about 60 countries and organisations are represented at the centre.
In remarks circulated by his office, Smotrich said: "The time has come to dismantle the headquarters in Kiryat Gat," referring to the Israeli city northeast of Gaza where the centre is based. He also called for Britain, Egypt and other countries he described as "hostile to Israel and undermine its security" to be removed from the CMCC.
The Israeli prime minister's office, the U.S. State Department and U.S. Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The British and Egyptian foreign ministries likewise did not immediately reply to requests for comment.
A displaced Palestinian man sits at a tent camp, after the United States said on Wednesday it is launching the second phase of its plan to end the Gaza war, in Gaza City, January 15, 2026. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Speaking at an event marking the establishment of a new Jewish settlement in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Smotrich repeated his view that Hamas should be given a "very short" ultimatum to disarm and leave Gaza, and that if the ultimatum expires the Israeli military should storm Gaza with "full force" to destroy the militant group.
"Mr. Prime Minister, it's either us or them. Either full Israeli control, the destruction of Hamas, and the continued long-term suppression of terrorism, encouragement of the enemy's emigration outward and permanent Israeli settlement," he said.
The U.S.-led CMCC was created after Trump unveiled his 20-point plan in September, which includes provisions for demilitarisation, reconstruction and conditional amnesty for members of Hamas who surrender their weapons and commit to peaceful coexistence. The plan also proposes offering safe passage to those from Gaza who choose to leave.
The White House last week said the plan had moved into a second phase, envisioned to include demilitarisation and reconstruction of Gaza. Under the initial phase, Israel and Hamas agreed a ceasefire that came into effect in October, and Hamas released the remaining living hostages taken during its October 2023 attack; the remains of all but one deceased hostage have also been handed over.
Since the ceasefire began, Israel has carried out repeated air strikes in Gaza that it says respond to or pre-empt attacks by Palestinian militants. According to reporting in this piece, more than 460 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect.
(Reporting by Steven Scheer and Alexander Cornwell in Jerusalem; additional reporting by Jana Choukeir in Dubai; edited by William Maclean.)
