The Peace Council mobilizes for Gaza… Italy offers police training while Europe observes

18th February 2026

2 minutes read

The Peace Council mobilizes for Gaza… Italy offers police training while Europe observes

In preparation for the “Peace Council” launched by U.S. President Donald Trump, scheduled to be held in Washington this week, international efforts are accelerating to support stability in the Gaza Strip, combining security arrangements with political initiatives aimed at reconstruction.

Following Indonesia’s announcement of its readiness to contribute up to 8,000 troops to a multinational peacekeeping force, should a clear international mandate defining missions and deployment conditions be established, a new European initiative has emerged, focusing on the civilian security dimension within the territory.

Italy and police training

In this context, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced on Monday that his country is ready to train a new police force in Gaza, as well as provide training for the Palestinian police, as part of Rome’s contribution to Middle East stabilization efforts.

Speaking at a press conference in Rome, Tajani said: “We are ready to train a new police force in Gaza, and we are also prepared to train the Palestinian police force,” emphasizing that his country sees the development of professional security institutions as a key step to support any upcoming political or humanitarian process.

The Italian minister also indicated that Italy is willing to participate as an observer in the Peace Council initiative, noting that Rome had received an invitation to attend the Council’s first meeting in Washington.

European presence as observer

The European Commission announced that Dubravka Šuica, European Commissioner for Mediterranean Affairs, will travel to Washington to attend the Peace Council meeting as an observer.

A Commission spokesperson stated that the European Union “will not become a member of the Peace Council,” but will participate in the meeting due to “its long-standing commitment to enforcing the ceasefire in Gaza and engaging in international efforts to support post-war reconstruction and recovery.”

Indonesia prepares troops

Earlier, Jakarta confirmed its readiness to deploy up to 8,000 soldiers for a multinational peacekeeping force that could reach up to 20,000 personnel, emphasizing that deployment is conditional on a clear international agreement defining the mandate and operational zones.

It was further clarified that no timeline or operational details have yet been finalized, and the final decision will be subject to national approval and international agreements.