U.S. Revives Shelved Gaza Digital Policing Plan for Militias

TEL AVIV (Azat TV) – Amid an ongoing security vacuum and stalled conventional training efforts in the Gaza Strip, a previously shelved U.S. proposal to equip Palestinian security forces with digital policing and cyberdefense capabilities has been “dusted off” in October 2025, now expanding to include training newly formed anti-Hamas militias. This move, surfacing more than three months into a declared ceasefire, signals a deepening and complex U.S. involvement in shaping Gaza’s post-war security landscape, even as the Trump administration prepares to announce a broader international stabilization force for the territory.

Originally conceived in 2022, before the October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, the initial U.S. proposal aimed to teach Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces in the West Bank advanced digital policing and cyberdefense techniques. This included training on software like Cellebrite, an Israeli digital forensics tool for analyzing data from confiscated devices, and network analysis tools such as ArcGIS and i2 Analyst’s Notebook, which can build threat maps and detect patterns from vast volumes of information. However, the plan was initially shelved due to concerns that such powerful tools could be easily abused, according to former U.S. officials involved at the time.

Resurfacing Digital Policing Amid Gaza Challenges

The decision to revive this digital policing initiative in October 2025, following a new ceasefire, marks a significant shift. The updated proposal not only intends to teach West Bank Palestinians cyberdefense for critical infrastructure but crucially, it also extends training to newly formed anti-Hamas militias operating in Gaza. These militias, reportedly armed by Israel, are to receive instruction in “network analysis to feed intel and targeting cycles,” as confirmed by individuals familiar with the plans who spoke to NPR. This expansion suggests a strategic pivot towards leveraging digital intelligence in a highly fragmented and volatile security environment.

The resurfacing of this specialized training comes as broader efforts to establish a functional Palestinian police force in post-war Gaza continue to face significant hurdles. A U.S. memo from October 30, 2023, titled “Gaza Exit Strategy and the Morning After,” had recommended the immediate establishment of Palestinian and international security forces to prevent a Hamas resurgence. However, conventional training initiatives designed to prepare thousands of Palestinian Authority Security Forces in advanced law enforcement techniques, including SWAT training, largely faltered. Efforts in 2024 to train Gazans in Jordan and Egypt were hampered by a lack of facilities and, in the case of 700 PA officers trained in Jordan, by mediocre quality and Israeli restrictions on live-fire practice, rendering their skills outdated as the conflict extended beyond initial expectations. An estimated 3,000 Palestinian police officers are needed for Gaza, a figure far exceeding the hundreds trained thus far.

Broader Security Challenges in Gaza

The security vacuum in Gaza remains a pressing concern. Masked militants, widely believed to be affiliated with Hamas, have been observed manning checkpoints and reinforcing their presence in areas they control, effectively filling the void that international efforts have sought to prevent. Senior Hamas official Hossam Badran stated in an interview with NPR that Hamas supports a new Palestinian police force but insists it must absorb the thousands of officers Hamas hired before the war, a demand that complicates any future integration.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration is expected to announce a comprehensive international stabilization force in mid-February 2026. This force is anticipated to include thousands of troops from several countries, alongside efforts to raise billions of dollars for reconstruction. Indonesia has emerged as the first country to make a firm commitment, preparing between 5,000 and 8,000 troops for possible deployment as peacekeepers, according to WSLS. The inaugural meeting of a “Board of Peace” is slated for next week in Washington, where further troop commitments are expected. However, the deployment faces challenges, including Israel’s objections to the participation of certain countries like Qatar and Turkey.

International Efforts and Local Obstacles

Adding to the complexity, Israel has expressed interest in incorporating local Gaza clans it has worked with into a future police force. However, European Union officials, who would support police training, oppose this approach, citing that “those types have criminal records.” One example highlighted by a European diplomat is Yasser Abu Shabab, a now-deceased head of a gang reportedly jailed for drug smuggling, whose group has been accused of widespread looting of food aid while operating as an Israeli-backed militia. This divergence in approaches underscores the deep disagreements over who should ultimately police Gaza and the methods by which security should be enforced.

The revival and expansion of the digital policing proposal, particularly its application to anti-Hamas militias, represents a highly specific and potentially controversial layer within the broader, often contradictory, international efforts to stabilize Gaza. It highlights a pragmatic, albeit risky, U.S. strategy to address immediate security concerns and counter Hamas’s influence through advanced intelligence tools, even as more conventional and politically challenging police force development remains largely unresolved.