Egypt is taking a significant step to help shape Gaza’s post-war security landscape by training hundreds of Palestinian police officers, a Palestinian official revealed to AFP.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty announced the ambitious plan to train 5,000 officers for Gaza during discussions with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in August.
The first group of more than 500 officers completed their training in Cairo in March. Since September, two-month courses have resumed, welcoming hundreds more trainees, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
All members of the emerging Gaza police force will come from the territory itself and will be salaried by the Palestinian Authority based in Ramallah.
“I’m very happy with the training. We want a permanent end to war and aggression, and we’re eager to serve our country and fellow citizens,” said a 26-year-old Palestinian police officer. He expressed hope that the new force would remain independent, loyal only to Palestine, and free from external influences.
Another officer, a lieutenant who relocated with his family from Gaza last year, highlighted the comprehensive operational training they received, including modern equipment for border surveillance. He said the courses focused on lessons from the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and its devastating consequences for the region.
The October conflict led to the deaths of 1,221 people in Israel and, in Gaza, at least 70,100 people, according to health ministry figures regarded as reliable by the UN.
Protecting the Dream
Training sessions also underscored the role of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and emphasized the vision of a fully sovereign and independent Palestinian state.
A senior Palestinian Authority security official confirmed that President Mahmoud Abbas had directed Interior Minister Ziad Hab al-Reeh to coordinate the training with Egypt.
During talks facilitated by Egypt last year, Palestinian movements, including Hamas and Abbas’s Fatah, agreed to establish a Gaza police force of roughly 10,000 officers. Egypt would train half, while the other 5,000 would come from Gaza’s existing police structure, which has been under Hamas control since 2007. The new force would be overseen by a committee of technocrats approved by Palestinian factions.
A senior Hamas official told AFP that the movement supports the agreed framework for Gaza’s security management. The issue was also discussed in US President Donald Trump’s peace plan, which contributed to last month’s fragile Gaza ceasefire, later endorsed by a UN Security Council resolution.
Europe Steps In
The plan also envisions an international force to secure border areas and help demilitarize Gaza. The European Union has expressed its intent to train up to 3,000 Palestinian officers in Gaza, building on a mission it has run in the West Bank since 2006, with a €13 million ($15 million) budget.
Despite these efforts, challenges remain. Hamas officials have questioned the feasibility of reaching a detailed agreement with Israel regarding Gaza’s future police force. Israel’s government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, opposes any role for Hamas or the Palestinian Authority in post-war Gaza.
AFP reports indicate that Hamas continues to maintain armed men in Gaza, providing basic law enforcement functions such as traffic control and mediating disputes, though it has publicly stated it no longer seeks to govern Gaza outright. Regarding disarmament, Hamas has indicated it may hand over part of its arsenal—but only within the framework of a Palestinian political process.
This initiative is more than just a training program—it’s a step toward stability and hope for Palestinians who dream of lasting peace and an independent state. For those officers, each day of training is a commitment to serve, protect, and secure the future of Gaza and its people.
