JERUSALEM/CAIRO — Feb. 19 (GeokHub) A newly formed U.S.-supported governing body in Gaza has begun recruiting members for a fresh police force, marking one of the first concrete steps toward reshaping security in the war-ravaged enclave. Officials overseeing the transition said roughly 2,000 applications were submitted within hours of the portal going live.
The recruitment drive is being led by the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a 15-member Palestinian body created to assume administrative control of Gaza under a broader peace framework endorsed by Washington. The committee announced that applications are open to men and women aged 18 to 35 who reside in Gaza, are physically fit, and have no criminal record.
The security initiative unfolded as U.S. President Donald Trump convened the first session of his newly established Board of Peace in Washington. During the meeting, he outlined multi-billion-dollar commitments toward rebuilding Gaza and detailed plans for a United Nations–authorized stabilization force intended to support long-term security and governance reforms.
Security at the Center of Reconstruction Efforts
Restoring law and order is viewed as a critical step in Gaza’s recovery after years of conflict that left neighborhoods flattened and public infrastructure in ruins. According to officials present at the Washington meeting, the long-term strategy envisions training up to 12,000 officers under the supervision of an international peacekeeping mission.
Major General Jasper Jeffers, appointed to lead the multinational stabilization force, indicated that training and professionalization of the police would be central to ensuring internal stability once administrative control transitions fully to the new committee.
Nikolay Mladenov, the U.S.-appointed envoy coordinating post-war efforts, confirmed that early interest in the police recruitment drive exceeded expectations, reflecting both urgent economic need and a desire among residents to participate in rebuilding efforts.
Debate Over Role of Existing Security Forces
The launch of the recruitment process comes amid unresolved questions about the future role of personnel affiliated with Hamas, which governed Gaza prior to the latest conflict and retains influence across portions of the territory.
While the new administration has expressed appreciation for those who maintained public services under extreme conditions, it has not clarified whether former members of Gaza’s existing police apparatus would be eligible for inclusion in the restructured force. Israel has firmly rejected any future governance arrangement that includes Hamas-affiliated officials.
Under a phased peace proposal currently in its second stage, administrative authority is intended to transition fully to NCAG, excluding militant groups from formal governance roles. However, issues including disarmament and territorial control remain major obstacles.
A Region Still Reeling
Gaza’s infrastructure and civilian population have endured immense strain following more than two years of fighting. Local health authorities report tens of thousands of fatalities during the conflict, while Israeli officials cite the October 7, 2023 attack — which resulted in 1,200 deaths and over 250 hostages — as the trigger for the prolonged military campaign.
As reconstruction funding pledges materialize, the success of the police recruitment drive may serve as an early test of whether the broader stabilization effort can gain traction on the ground.
