The US is reportedly recruiting members of organised crime gangs in Gaza to staff the post-war police force in the Strip.
According to The Telegraph, the Trump administration is looking to work with a variety of anti-Hamas militias within the territory to replace the terror group’s law enforcement capabilities.
Israel has, since the start of the war, been arming and supporting several such groups, despite their links to drug dealing and, in some cases, ties to Islamic State, as a means of destabilising Hamas rule internally.
Citing a number of Western officials, The Telegraph reports that Washington has presented plans to work with these gangs to its allies.
However, the report notes that the idea has resulted in “pushback” from American military commanders, who remain sceptical about the security implications.
Senior army figures are reported to have emphasised that the US-led wider peace process “will not work without reliable security partners”.
"There was significant pushback along the lines of ‘this is ridiculous – they’re not only criminal gangs, but they’re sponsored by Israel’,” one source told the paper.
The project is apparently being led by President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Aryeh Lightstone, the chief executive of the Abraham Accords Institute.
They are said to be looking into the idea of establishing “safe” communities where Palestinians can flee Hamas control.
One Western official said: “There is a feeling that Kushner, Lightstone et al believe that if they can just give Palestinians the chance to flee Hamas, then they will take it.
“But the reality on the ground is that while lots of Gazans don’t like Hamas, they really don’t like or trust the clans. They see them as criminals.
“There is also a concern that the more ideological members of the administration will at some point turn around and say ‘we’ve given you the opportunity to leave Hamas; if you’re still there you must be a sympathiser’. Then Israel gets the green light to restart the war.”
A spokesperson for the Trump administration told The Telegraph: “Planning efforts remain underway to develop the vetting process for the police force. We won’t get ahead of that process.
“As the president stated, Hamas must uphold its commitment to fully and immediately demilitarise.”
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