EU ministers to consider training 3,000 Palestinian police for Gaza

• EU foreign ministers will consider leading the training of 3,000 Palestinian police officers for Gaza.
• The proposal is part of implementing Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza.
• The EU may expand its border and police support missions in the region.
• Uncertainty remains as Russia has proposed its own UN resolution challenging US efforts.

European Union foreign ministers are set to discuss a plan next week for the bloc to take a leading role in training 3,000 Palestinian police officers, with the potential to later deploy them in Gaza, according to a document reviewed by Reuters on Friday.

The paper, prepared by the EU’s diplomatic service ahead of a November 20 ministerial meeting, outlines options for supporting the implementation of a 20-point plan for Gaza proposed by US President Donald Trump. 'Israel' and Hamas agreed in October to the first phase of the blueprint, but further implementation of the deal remains highly uncertain.

The European External Action Service (EEAS) suggested expanding the bloc’s two civilian missions in the region, which currently focus on border assistance and supporting Palestinian Authority (PA) policing and justice reforms. The document noted that the EU’s police support mission could “take leadership in training the Palestinian police force in Gaza by providing direct training and support to approx. 3,000 Palestinian police officers (on the PA pay-roll) from Gaza, with a view to training the full 13,000 Palestinian police force.”

In addition, the paper proposed the potential expansion of the EU’s civilian border monitoring mission in Rafah to other border crossing points.

Despite the plans, prospects for the EU to move forward with these initiatives remain uncertain. Complicating matters, Russia submitted its own draft of a UN resolution on Gaza on Thursday, presenting a challenge to the U.S. effort to pass a resolution endorsing President Trump’s plan.