August 23, 2025

Nineteen senior officials from Palestine’s customs department are in Gujarat, India, learning how to tackle financial crime with the help of Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU). These top officials joined a special two-week training program from August 18 to 29. This training is part of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), designed to support friendly countries with skills and knowledge. Ravish Shah, Director of International Cooperation and Relations at RRU, said, “Under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, we train law enforcement officials from various friendly countries. The training is funded by the MEA and is part of the soft diplomacy of India.” He added, “Currently we are offering a special programme for customs officials from Palestine. About 20 officials were nominated, but only 19 could attend the training in online commerce fraud and combating economic and financial crimes.” Dr Mahmoud Sharif Mustafa Zytoon, a senior police official from Palestine, praised the course: “This course is very important for my colleagues and friends in other departments like Customs Police. This is to gain knowledge and specialist training in combating economic and financial crimes. We need more such training sessions and for longer duration.” When asked about how they will apply this knowledge amid ongoing conflicts with Israel, Zytoon shared, “Some areas are experiencing intense conflicts, while in some it is on a medium (scale). But it is during these times we need more knowledge on economic and financial crimes.” The curriculum was carefully made to focus on key areas like trade-based money laundering (TBML), a tricky way criminals hide illegal money through trade. Besides classroom lessons, the officials will visit banks and regulatory bodies to see real-life crime fighting in action. Topics include terrorist financing—exploring how terrorist groups raise money and why global teamwork is crucial to end these networks. The training also covers laws, rules, and teamwork needed to fight financial crime well. Advanced tools like Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and crime mapping will help the officials spot crime hotspots like detectives with high-tech gadgets. Open-source intelligence (OSINT) shows how public info can help catch bad guys. With digital currencies on the rise, the course tackles the tough job of spotting and stopping illegal money moving through cryptocurrencies. This adds a modern twist to fighting financial crime, making the training super relevant for the digital age. This engaging cooperation highlights India’s knack for soft diplomacy—helping allies learn, grow, and fight crime better. As Palestine faces tough times, this training brings hope and strong skills to protect their economic future.

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Tags: Palestine, Financial crime, Customs officials, Rashtriya raksha university, Itec programme, Money laundering,