4 days ago
Egypt Outlines Plan to Manage Gaza After Israeli Offensive
Egypt has revealed its plan for managing the Gaza Strip once the current Israeli military offensive ends. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Ati said a temporary independent committee and thousands of police officers will be deployed to restore security and order.
Restoring Security and Law
In an interview with DMC TV on Wednesday evening, Abdel Ati emphasized Egypt's vision for post-war arrangements in Gaza, focusing on security and administration. He stressed the importance of relying on Palestinian authorities to enforce law and fill the security vacuum.
10,000 Police to Be Deployed
The minister explained that Palestinian police forces from Gaza and the West Bank could be called upon, retrained, and deployed. Currently, about 5,000 officers are on payroll and could return to duty, while Egypt plans to train an additional 5,000 officers in coordination with Jordan and the Palestinian Authority to ensure clean records. Training will take place in Egyptian camps, with Jordan also helping train some officers ahead of a planned ceasefire to ensure stability.
15 Technocrats to Run Gaza
Regarding administration, Abdel Ati said the Cairo International Conference on Reconstruction and Early Recovery in Gaza will discuss the arrangements. Fifteen prominent technocrats, already based in Gaza, have been chosen to form a non-partisan committee to manage the sector for six months.
Six-Month Transitional Period
The six-month period is intended to allow time to rehabilitate the Palestinian Authority so it can resume its role as the legitimate governing body in both Gaza and the West Bank. During this transitional period, the administrative committee will oversee early recovery projects in coordination with international organizations, following the conference's guidelines.