Israel barring recruits it vetted for Gaza police from leaving Strip for training

Israel is blocking roughly 16,500 Palestinians who passed its own vetting from leaving Gaza for police training in Egypt, according to Board of Peace officials. The recruits are meant to serve on the new technocratic government's police force, replacing Hamas. The Board has pressed Israel for months without final approval.

Israel is blocking roughly 16,500 Palestinians who passed its own vetting process from leaving the Gaza Strip for police training in Egypt, according to two officials from the US-controlled Board of Peace. The recruits were approved to serve on the new technocratic government's police force, which is tasked with replacing Hamas in governing the Strip. The figure constitutes about five percent of the 283,000 applications submitted since February to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). The Board of Peace officials said applications were vetted by Israel and the NCAG along with countries represented at the International Gaza Support Center. The officials described the candidates as "strong candidates without linkages to any terrorist activity." Still, they acknowledged that Israel was holding up the training even after playing a major role in vetting. The Board is also seeking assurances that those who exit will be permitted to return after training. US special envoy Jared Kushner said on Sunday that the October 27 election has made Netanyahu's government act "a little irrational" when it comes to Gaza. Kushner fumed at Netanyahu last month over opposition to the Board's plan to disarm Hamas. The Board took eight months to coax Hamas into agreeing to the proposal on July 30, but the effort has stalled amid Israeli opposition.