Neither Egypt nor the European Union will provide training for police officers in Gaza associated with Hamas, as revealed by diplomats following reports of Hamas seeking positions for its police force in the post-war region.
According to the Times of Israel, Egypt and the European Union have confirmed that they will not train police officers in Gaza who are linked to Hamas. This announcement follows concerns about the employment of 10,000 Hamas policemen in the region after the conflict. Both Egypt and the EU were previously preparing to extend training for the Palestinian police to facilitate developments in Gaza, based on a plan from former US President Donald Trump that entailed setting up a temporary International Stabilization Force to assist a newly trained Palestinian police force.
Diplomats mentioned that the new police force would be composed of individuals not affiliated with Hamas, despite earlier reports suggesting that Hamas members might still play a role in policing Gaza under the new arrangement. This reflects Israel's ongoing concern regarding Hamas's presence in any security force, effectively prohibiting Hamas's influence in law enforcement in the region, which could have implications for future security and governance in Gaza.
The decision by both Egypt and the EU is significant, as it underscores the challenges in establishing a functional law enforcement body in Gaza that is free from Hamas's influence. The collaboration of international actors in Palestinian security affairs remains fraught with tension, especially given the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and future efforts to stabilize Gaza may continue to be hampered by the political landscape and the entrenched positions of Hamas and other factions.
