Egypt has quietly begun training Palestinian Authority security personnel to take over internal policing in Gaza, in coordination with Jordan and under what was described as a broader Arab plan to stabilize the territory.
The program, confirmed by Egyptian and Palestinian officials, aims to prepare up to 10,000 recruits, mostly from PA forces in the West Bank, with initial groups already undergoing six-month training courses in Egyptian military academies.
Arab officials involved in the plan have stressed the urgency of replacing Hamas’s control with a unified Palestinian force. “Without the PA, it’s either Hamas or chaos,” one official said.
PA adviser Mahmoud al-Habbash stated that the international community is expected to fund the initiative, with an initial deployment of 5,000 personnel once a ceasefire is reached.
Egypt’s proposal includes a transitional administration led by a technocratic committee of 15 Palestinian figures, eventually restoring full PA governance.
In shaping the force, Egyptian authorities have deliberately excluded recruits affiliated with rival factions—particularly those loyal to exiled Palestinian figure Mahmoud Dahlan.
Once head of Gaza’s Preventive Security Force and a longtime rival of President Mahmoud Abbas, Dahlan has maintained strong ties with Egypt, the UAE, and other regional powers.
His name has surfaced in past proposals to lead alternative governance structures in Gaza, but his involvement remains politically divisive.
Egyptian officials reportedly feared that including Dahlan’s network could provoke internal objections from Ramallah and complicate Gulf support.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has emphasized that any deployment must be backed by a UN Security Council resolution and anchored in a clear political horizon.
“Without a political horizon, it will be nonsense to deploy any forces there,” he said during a joint press conference with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa.
The plan faces stiff resistance from Israel, which opposes any PA role in Gaza’s future. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has argued that the PA’s positions are indistinguishable from Hamas.
Meanwhile, Hamas retains an estimated 20,000 fighters in the territory, raising doubts about the feasibility of any new security arrangement without a broader political resolution.
The Arab League has endorsed the PA’s return and called for Hamas to disarm, but Gulf states have withheld funding pending leadership reforms and guarantees that Hamas will not remain in control.
Egypt’s strategy reflects its dual role as mediator and regional stabilizer, aiming to prevent displacement, restore Palestinian governance, and avoid a security vacuum along its border.
Abdelatty has stated that any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza would be a red line: “We will not accept it, we will not participate in it, and we will not allow it to happen.”
Whether this plan can translate into a viable framework depends on diplomatic breakthroughs, international guarantees, and the willingness of Palestinian factions to engage in a unified, accountable transition.
Yet the plan faces formidable obstacles. Gaza’s physical landscape has been shattered ongoing bombardment since October 7, 2023, leaving behind massive destruction, unexploded ordnance, and impassable debris.
Much of the territory is unfit for civilian life, with essential infrastructure, water, electricity, healthcare, either destroyed or severely degraded.
Humanitarian conditions remain dire, and any security deployment would need to navigate not only logistical hazards but also deep political fault lines.
Long-standing distrust between Palestinian factions, particularly between Hamas and the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, threatens to undermine efforts at unified governance.
Without a durable ceasefire, credible international oversight, and consensus among key regional and global actors, the transition risks collapsing before it begins.
Hamas has recently signaled its acceptance of a ceasefire proposal mediated by Egypt and Qatar, expressing hope that the devastation might soon come to an end.
A senior official from the movement confirmed that a formal response had been submitted to the mediators, describing the initiative as a potential step toward relief for the Palestinian people.
Although Hamas has not issued a direct statement regarding Egypt’s plan to train PA security forces for deployment in Gaza, its broader stance reflects cautious engagement with diplomatic efforts, provided certain conditions are met.
The group continues to insist on a full cessation of bombing, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and assurances that Palestinian sovereignty will be respected.
It has consistently rejected any arrangement that would allow Israel to maintain control over Gaza’s borders or impose governance structures aligned with foreign interests.
Internally, Hamas has reviewed Egypt’s proposed framework for a temporary truce and prisoner exchange.
While it has shown willingness to engage with mediators, the group remains firmly opposed to any post-war arrangement that sidelines its role or installs external authorities without broad Palestinian consensus.
Meanwhile, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, Hadja Lahbib, has issued a stark appeal to EU member states, urging them to show “political courage” and adopt a unified stance on the genocide in Gaza.
Speaking to journalists, Lahbib declared that the bloc had reached a turning point and must act in a way that reflects its global stature. “It’s time for Europe to unite in its position on Gaza,” she said.
Her remarks came amid mounting evidence of a deepening humanitarian catastrophe. Lahbib described the situation as intolerable, warning that history—and future generations—will judge Europe’s response.
“What’s happening there troubles me deeply, and it should trouble all of us. It’s a tragedy. We cannot stand by and watch innocent civilians, humanitarian workers, and journalists being killed and starved,” she said.
The Commissioner’s comments follow recent findings that famine is no longer a looming threat in Gaza—it is a present reality. With hundreds of thousands facing starvation, Lahbib called for immediate, unimpeded humanitarian access and demanded that aid be allowed to reach those in need without obstruction.
