Hamas wants to turn its militants into policemen in Gaza. Threat of repeating the scenario that led to the emergence of the Islamic State
Hamas fighters preparing the release of Israeli hostages. Photo: Hamza ZH Qraiqea / AFP / Profimedia
Hamas aims for 10,000 members of its security personnel to be included in a future Palestinian administration for the Gaza Strip, a Hamas official involved in this issue told DPA on Tuesday, reports Agerpres.
According to him, an agreement was reached with the representatives of the United States, and all candidates will be subject to security checks.
Israel has rejected any involvement of the Palestinian militant group Hamas in a future administration in Gaza.
Netanyahu: “The next step is the disarmament of Hamas, not the reconstruction of Gaza”
The quoted official explained that the Hamas police have the best understanding of conditions in the region and that including its members will also help prevent dismissed policemen from joining radical groups.
He gave, as a counterexample, the situation in Iraq after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein from power. US-appointed administrator Paul Bremer disbanded the military and security services by decree in 2003, freeing up hundreds of thousands of trained and armed men.
The move is believed to have fueled armed opposition to the US-led coalition ruling the country at the time. Former Iraqi officers loyal to Saddam later formed the military backbone and leadership of the Islamic State (IS) organization.
