Donald Trump wants organised anti-Hamas crime gangs to form police force in Gaza

Israel, which is understood to back the United States’ proposals, has armed and actively supported some of the clans since the Gaza conflict came to boiling point with the October 7 attacks.

However, the notion of using some of their members to form part of a US-backed peace force has reportedly triggered “pushback” from senior American commanders.

The armed clans in Gaza, which are formed along family lines, have documented links to organised crime going back decades, and civilians in the enclave deeply mistrust them.

In recent months, the clans have been accused of looting aid trucks as well as committing murders and carrying out kidnappings.

At least two of the major clan groups include members who have either actively fought alongside Islamic State, or declared allegiance to the terrorist organisation.

Senior US military commanders are concerned that Donald Trump’s peace process “will not work without reliable security partners".

Britain, France and some other nations involved in trying to turn the president’s 20-point peace plan into reality have also expressed concern.

Four months after the ceasefire, plans for a post-Hamas police force appear largely to have stalled, amid disagreement over its composition and funding.

There is also significant uncertainty as to whether Hamas would voluntarily disarm.

Mr Trump is holding the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace in Washington on Thursday, which delegations from more than 20 countries will attend.

Organisers hope to announce funding commitments for the reconstruction of Gaza, as well as promises of troops for the United Nations-mandated international stabilisation force (ISF), which, it is thought, would sit above the new Gaza police force and liaise with the Israel Defense Forces outside the Strip.

Mr Trump said on Sunday that $5billion had already been pledged for reconstruction and “thousands” of personnel promised to the ISF and local police.

The plan to recruit the new police force from the clans emerged before Christmas, prompting disagreement at the multi-national new Civil-Military Coordination Centre in southern Israel.

One Western source said: “There was significant pushback along the lines of ‘this is ridiculous – they’re not only criminal gangs but they’re sponsored by Israel’.”

Jared Kushner, Mr Trump’s son-in-law, is central to the administration’s drive to push forward the 20-point plan for peace.

He has been spearheading plans for new temporary “safe” communities in the part of Gaza under IDF control to tempt Palestinians away from the Hamas-controlled area, in the event the terrorist group does not willingly disarm.

The first community, which is currently being constructed on site of the former city of Rafah, is in an area dominated by the “Popular Forces” militia, an Israeli-backed group that has been accused of drug smuggling and aid looting.

The Doghmush clan in Gaza City is also accused of having had links with the terror group.

A group called the Army of Islam, which was led by figures from the Doghmush, also abducted the BBC correspondent Alan Johnston, who was held for 114 days in 2007.

Which clans US and Israeli figures proposed hiring from for the new Gaza police force is not currently known.

A US administration official told The Telegraph: “Planning efforts remain under way to develop the vetting process for the police force. We won’t get ahead of that process.

“As the president stated, Hamas must uphold its commitment to fully and immediately demilitarise.”