Eurasia Press & News
Creating a police force is a necessary way to stabilize an area after conflict. The EU can play a role, but it needs to act to do so.
The European Union could play a role in training thousands of police in Gaza, according to reports and a statement from the EU High Representative on November 20. However, many details remain to be clarified.
The EU is already training Palestinian police, a program that EUPOL COPPS backs. The EU thus has a note of experience doing this with Palestinians. The program has been successful for the Palestinian Authority police.
Reports on November 14 at Reuters suggested that the EU foreign ministers would discuss the training of 3,000 Palestinian police officers that could be deployed to Gaza. The European External Action Service had outlined several proposals regarding the Palestinian Authority.
A report said the EU’s existing police support mission could “take leadership in training the Palestinian police force in Gaza.” This would support 3,000 police who are apparently on the PA payroll. A total of some 13,000 police are apparently needed. This number apparently refers to Gaza. The EU already supports training in the West Bank.
At a press briefing for the EU Foreign Affairs Council on November 11, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said she would discuss the Middle East and the UN Security Council resolution backing the Trump plan for stabilization of Gaza.
She added that the EU was discussing how to change its existing two missions, the EUPOL COPPS mission and the EUBAM Rafah border crossing mission. EUBAM had been created after Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005; however, it never functioned as intended at the Rafah crossing.
EU plans to train 3,000 Palestinian policemen
Kallas noted that “the plan is to train 3,000 Palestinian policemen to cover the border and really have what police does in a country.” This is a reference to Gaza. However, she noted that the EU can only help the Palestinians with confidence-building and training. But it will require more resources from the EU member states and the donor group for the Palestinians.
She said that the current ceasefire in Gaza is fragile. The EU wants to build toward lasting peace. Its official policy is also a two-state solution.
What are the risks of a European-led police mission in Gaza?
There are many challenges regarding the police mission. The EU prefers to back the police because it doesn’t want to get involved in security forces. The US took the lead in backing the Palestinian Security Forces via the Security Coordination.
This mission, which goes back 20 years, got more wind in its sails after Hamas pushed the PA and Fatah out of Gaza in 2007. The mission to support the Palestinian Authority Security forces fell to US Lt. General Kieth Dayton, who served as US Security Coordinator from 2005-2010.
The Palestinian forces were sometimes referred to as Dayton’s “army” in those days due to his key role. Lt. Gen. Michael Fenzel took over the coordination role in 2021.
The EU’s role will come into more focus now that the UN Security Council backs the US plan. US Central Command is already playing a key role, having stood up the Coordination Center or CMCC, where around 20 countries and 20 organizations are working together to focus on stabilizing Gaza and getting humanitarian aid into the area. This has been going well since October 17, when the CMCC was established. As such, the EU countries can play a role in Gaza if they can find a way to train the police.
The question about the police is a complex one, though, because it appears the EU would want to train Gazans, and it is unclear if this may mean existing police. The PA has paid salaries in Gaza, but the role of the police in Gaza has always been suspect. Some countries, activists, and even media see the police as separate from Hamas and a force that can be worked with to maintain law and order.
On the other hand, it appears the police in Gaza, like most institutions in Gaza, are infiltrated by Hamas. How would those who are deeply infiltrated end up being helpful for a new Gaza? Could they be vetted to make sure they are not Hamas members? On the other hand, training new police cohorts takes time. Gaza will need a civil authority and police force to act under the Board of Peace envisioned in the stabilization. This could work in concert with countries that contribute forces to Gaza. Indonesia has been mentioned as one such country.
The challenge is that every day that goes by, the police and others are not being trained, is a day Hamas can use to its benefit in Gaza. It’s unclear if there are Gazans who have moved to the West Bank or people in the West Bank or elsewhere, such as Jordan or Egypt, who have Gazan roots who might be able to sign up for a police force or who have some existing experience.
Creating a police force is a necessary way to stabilize an area after conflict. Whether it is Northern Ireland or Bosnia, these are the basics that are needed. The EU can play a role, but it needs to act to do so.
