Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Hamas is pushing to integrate its 10,000-strong police force into a new U.S.-backed Palestinian administration for Gaza, a move likely to face resistance from Israel as the group negotiates the possible surrender of its weapons.
The militant organization currently controls just under half of Gaza following an October ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump. That agreement ties further Israeli troop withdrawals to Hamas decommissioning its heavy arms.
Under the 20-point plan guiding the second phase of Gaza’s transition, governance is slated to be handed to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a Palestinian technocratic body overseen by the U.S. designed to exclude Hamas from decision-making.
In a letter to staff on Sunday, Hamas urged its 40,000 civil servants and security personnel to cooperate with the NCAG while assuring them that the group is working to integrate them into the new administration. This includes the roughly 10,000 police officers, who have been actively patrolling Gaza under Hamas control, according to four sources familiar with the matter.
It remains unclear whether Israel, which has consistently rejected Hamas participation in governance, will accept the inclusion of the group’s personnel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office did not comment.
Sticking Points
Hamas’ plans highlight major hurdles in the transition. While Hamas officials expressed willingness to allow the NCAG to restructure ministries and retire some workers, mass dismissals could create instability. Hamas has yet to meet in person with NCAG Chair Ali Shaath to finalize governance arrangements.
Security oversight is another sensitive issue. Sami Nasman, a former Palestinian Authority general now assigned to the NCAG, could face operational challenges in Gaza, where Hamas previously expelled him and sentenced him in absentia.
Disarmament Discussions
The Trump administration has emphasized immediate decommissioning of heavy weapons, proposing that personal arms be registered and neutralized as the NCAG police assume security responsibilities. Hamas is reported to still possess hundreds of rockets and thousands of light weapons.
Sources say Hamas has agreed to discuss disarmament with other Palestinian factions and mediators, though no concrete proposals have been presented. U.S. officials have indicated that some form of amnesty for Hamas fighters could be part of the plan.
Hamas has suggested the possibility of neutralizing weapons as part of a long-term truce, potentially spanning five years or longer, but insists that disarmament must be linked to a broader political negotiation on Palestinian statehood. Other armed groups in Gaza have expressed similar concerns about remaining defenseless.
Netanyahu underscored Israel’s priorities in parliament on Monday, stating that the next phase of the Gaza deal focuses on “demilitarization of the Strip and disarming Hamas,” rather than reconstruction.
