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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-02 at 03:05
HEADLINES
UN-backed Gaza police training to curb Hamas
Beirut mass unites amid regional tensions
France charges two teens in ISIS plot
The time is now 10:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Good evening. Diplomatic and security channels in the Middle East are advancing a framework to deploy a Palestinian police force in Gaza as part of a broader strategy for postwar governance and civilian security. Egypt and the European Union are expanding training for Palestinian police officers drawn largely from Gazan security services, with emphasis on vetting to prevent Hamas linkage. The effort runs in parallel with a United Nations Security Council approved framework that would authorize an International Stabilization Force to help secure borders, support demilitarization, and protect civilians and humanitarian operations while the newly trained Palestinian police assume day‑to‑day policing in Gaza.
Exact size, command structure, deployment areas, and responsibilities remain to be finalized, and officials caution that the program is still in the planning and piloting stages. The initiative sits within a broader, US-backed peace framework that seeks to shape the security landscape of Gaza in the wake of ongoing hostilities. In Washington and Brussels, the plan is viewed as a way to reduce the space Hamas can influence on the ground while preserving civilian protection and humanitarian access, though concerns about governance, accountability, and the risk of militias reasserting themselves linger in diplomatic circles.
Israel’s public stance on the plan has been cautious, with officials offering measured commentary as details unfold. An Arab diplomat briefed on the matter said Israel is “very happy” with the initial UNSC resolution draft, while stressing that Israeli assessment will depend on the final text and on how vetting and implementation proceed. Israeli concerns, as described by diplomats, focus on ensuring that any Palestinian security force operates with clear oversight, adheres to civilian protection norms, and does not open new channels for conflict on the ground. The overarching aim is to support a transition away from Hamas‑led policing and to establish a non‑ Hamas security presence that can engage with Gazans directly.
Hamas continues to hold sway over large swaths of Gaza, and the success of any postwar security arrangement depends on how thoroughly potential security personnel are vetted and how the ISF and police operate in concert with civilian authorities. Western and regional officials caution that some groups with past affiliations or current loyalties to Hamas could complicate recruitment and deployment. Vetting will involve multiple actors, including Israeli and American review, to ensure recruits meet basic standards and have no ties to Hamas or other militant networks. Officials stress that the process is designed to be gradual and carefully monitored, with the goal of creating a credible, non‑militant policing presence that can earn public trust.
Timeline discussions point toward a staged rollout, with the International Stabilization Force expected to be deployed in some capacity in the coming years, and the Palestinian police force gradually taking on responsibilities as training completes. Some diplomats say that the EU’s role could grow in coordination with regional partners, as Brussels evaluates additional civilian deployments and training missions that would support governance and security—not only in Gaza, but as part of broader regional stabilization efforts tied to the peace framework.
In related regional notes, the day includes a high‑profile visit to Beirut as Pope Francis holds mass on the Lebanese coast, offering a moment of spiritual focus amid regional tensions. The gathering drew tens of thousands of worshippers and was framed as a call for resilience
Published on 1 week, 5 days ago