Training Initiatives Underway
Officials have confirmed that potential recruits are already engaging in training at Egyptian military academies. The majority of the Palestinians anticipated to join this security force are expected to originate from the Palestinian Authority’s security services. Additionally, some members from the PA’s Fatah faction—Hamas’ secular nationalist rival—may also come from Gaza.
U.S. Signals Potential Conflict Resolution
As Egypt ramps up preparations for a postwar Gaza, U.S. officials indicate that the ongoing conflict could conclude soon. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff recently stated, “We believe we can reach a settlement, one way or another, certainly before the end of the year.”
Resistance to PA Governance in Gaza
The initiative to deploy Palestinian Authority forces in Gaza is likely to face significant opposition from Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other coalition leaders have articulated their unwillingness to permit the PA to govern the area. This contention forms a central aspect of the disagreement between Israel and Arab nations that are eager to support postwar Gaza, as these Arab countries insist on a prominent role for the PA.
International Force Composition
The exact makeup of the international force, which will include Palestinian security personnel, remains a topic of negotiation among Arab states. Countries like the United Arab Emirates are advocating for reforms within the PA prior to endorsing its involvement in Gaza’s postwar governance. Most of the Arab forces are expected to be drawn from Egypt, along with smaller numbers from Jordan and Gulf states, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Arab Stance Against Hamas
The push to prepare Palestinians as a replacement for Hamas coincides with a notable shift among Arab nations, many of which have openly criticized the group’s continued dominance in Gaza. In an unprecedented move, the 22-member Arab League recently called for Hamas to disarm and relinquish its rule over the Strip.
Statements from Palestinian Officials
“Hamas should not be part of the day after,” declared Mahmoud al-Habbash, a senior advisor to PA President Mahmoud Abbas, as he confirmed the plan to train up to 10,000 security personnel. “Without the PA, it’s either Hamas or chaos,” he added, emphasizing expectations that the initiative will be funded by the international community. An initial group of 5,000 personnel will undergo six months of training in Egypt, commencing on the first day of a ceasefire. The Wall Street Journal noted that Hamas has yet to issue a response regarding this plan.
Hamas Rejects International Force Proposal
Recently, Egypt and Qatar presented a proposal to Hamas for creating an international force primarily composed of Arab security personnel, including PA forces being trained in Egypt. However, Hamas rejected this plan, which mandated the group to surrender all military and political power in Gaza.
In contrast, Hamas expressed willingness to consider a prior U.S.-Israeli proposal that involves a 60-day ceasefire, the release of 10 hostages, and the return of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners—an offer Israel has not yet addressed.
Challenges Facing the Palestinian Authority
Despite Israeli opposition to PA governance in Gaza, citing accusations of “support for terror,” there remains a level of cooperation between Israel and the PA in the West Bank. The Wall Street Journal added that the inability to establish a new Palestinian leadership in Gaza has allowed Hamas to quickly reclaim control whenever Israeli forces have withdrawn during the conflict.
Public perception of the PA among Palestinians is notably negative; a May poll by Khalil Shikaki revealed that 81% of Palestinians desire Abbas’s resignation. The PA has been mired in corruption allegations and is broadly perceived as collaborating with Israel in the West Bank. Khaled Elgindy, a former adviser to Palestinian negotiators, noted that training the security forces is “an attempt by Arab states to rehabilitate the Palestinian Authority, which is suffering a crisis of legitimacy.”
