In February, Hamas announced that it would accept applications for the
police, Middle East Newsline reported. About 15,000 people submitted applications for 1,500 positions.
"We will not look into the political affiliation of individuals, but
will focus on aspects such as physical fitness," Interior Ministry spokesman
Ihab Ghussein said.
Officials said about a third of the applicants were believed to be
aligned with Fatah, mostly through family. Many of them passed a fitness
examination, which required a minimum height of 1.75 centimeters and weight
of 75 kilograms.
Hamas has a security force of about 15,000. About 200 Hamas fighters
identified as police officers were killed during the war with Israel in
2009.
The recruits were told that they would focus on law enforcement rather
than military missions. But officials acknowledged that police have been
used in battles between the regime and such opponents as Fatah or Al
Qaida-aligned groups.
In February, the recruits began fitness tests and exercises along the
Gaza coast. The training included running on a track as well as sit-ups,
push-ups and pull-ups.
