EU Initiates Training Program for 3,000 Palestinian Security Personnel for Gaza Post-UNSC Resolution

The European Union is currently developing a significant initiative aimed at training up to three thousand Palestinian law enforcement officers specifically designated for operations within the Gaza Strip. This information was disclosed by an unnamed official representative on November 19, 2025. This training effort is positioned as a cornerstone of stabilization plans for the enclave, contingent upon the continued adherence to the ceasefire agreement that took effect on October 10, 2025. The primary objective of this preparation is to cultivate a professional security force entirely independent of the Hamas movement, a prerequisite widely recognized as essential for achieving lasting regional security.

This European undertaking follows closely on the heels of the United Nations Security Council's adoption of Resolution 2803 on November 17, 2025. This resolution formally endorsed the twenty-point peace framework originally proposed by United States President Donald Trump. Resolution 2803 passed with 13 votes in favor, while both Russia and China abstained from the vote. Crucially, the resolution authorizes the establishment of International Stabilization Forces (ISF) tasked with coordinating with Israel, Egypt, and these newly trained police personnel on matters concerning the demilitarization of Gaza and border security management.

The core of the EU’s proposal involves adapting its existing police support mission, which the Union has been financing on the West Bank since 2006, currently budgeted at approximately 15 million dollars. Key metrics of the plan target 3,000 trainees. Within the Palestinian Authority payroll in Gaza, there are roughly 7,000 officers listed, of whom an estimated 3,000 are considered viable candidates for this intensive retraining program. It is anticipated that the training sessions will take place outside the Gaza Strip, a decision likely driven by security concerns or existing institutional limitations within the territory itself.

Furthermore, a document from the European External Action Service, presented ahead of the EU Foreign Ministers' meeting on November 20, detailed plans to extend the mandate of the civilian border monitoring mission at Rafah to encompass additional crossing points. UN Security Council Resolution 2803 also mandates the creation of a UN Peace Council to function as a transitional administration. This council will oversee the reconstruction of the enclave until the Palestinian Authority can demonstrate its capacity to effectively reassert control. Consequently, the police training program is inextricably linked to this broader, internationally sanctioned transitional mechanism, tying security sector reform directly to defined political milestones.

Despite securing international backing, the practical realization of these EU initiatives remains somewhat up in the air. Hamas has publicly voiced its opposition to Resolution 2803, arguing that it fails to address the fundamental political and humanitarian requirements of the Palestinian people. Additionally, the Russian Foreign Ministry indicated that Resolution 2803 deviates from the established spirit of peacekeeping and recognized parameters for establishing a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. Nevertheless, the EU’s training plan represents a pragmatic step toward institutional capacity building, though its success is fundamentally tethered to the sustained adherence to the ceasefire established on October 10, 2025.