European Union foreign ministers are slated to discuss a proposal next week to train 3,000 Palestinian police officers for potential deployment in the Gaza Strip. This initiative comes as Indonesia prepares 20,000 troops for a possible peacekeeping mission in the region.
A document prepared by the EU’s diplomatic arm outlines options for contributing to a 20-point plan for Gaza, initially proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. The document, reviewed ahead of the ministers’ meeting on November 20th, suggests expanding the scope of existing EU civilian missions in the region, which currently focus on border management and supporting Palestinian Authority reforms in policing and justice.
The document proposes that the EU police support mission could “take the lead in training the Palestinian police force in Gaza by providing direct training and support to approximately 3,000 Palestinian police officers (listed on the Palestinian Authority’s payroll) from Gaza, with the aim of training the full force of approximately 13,000 Palestinian police personnel.”
Furthermore, the proposal includes potentially expanding the EU’s civilian border monitoring mission in Rafah to include other border crossings. However, the likelihood of the EU proceeding with these initiatives remains uncertain. The document highlights the complexities of the situation.
Indonesia Prepares Peacekeepers
In a related development, Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafri Sjamsoeddin announced that President Prabowo Subianto has ordered the armed forces to prepare 20,000 troops for potential participation in a United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Gaza Strip.
Speaking at the Ministry of Defense in Jakarta, the Minister stated that the force would include personnel with medical and engineering expertise to support large-scale humanitarian operations. The Indonesian commitment underscores the international community’s growing concern for stability and security in Gaza. The situation remains fluid, and further details are expected following the EU ministers’ meeting.
