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Plans for an international stabilisation force authorized by the United Nations to demilitarize the militant group in Gaza are encountering increasing opposition after the United Arab Emirates stated it would not join due to the absence of a well-defined legal structure.

Growing International Concerns

Israeli authorities have already excluded Turkish involvement, and Jordan's King Abdullah has stated that his country's troops will not participate. Azerbaijan, once considered as a potential contributor, did not attend a planning meeting in Istanbul and said it would not take part unless a complete ceasefire was in place.

The UAE lacks clarity on a defined framework for the stability mission and under such circumstances will not participate, but will support all diplomatic initiatives towards peace – and remain at the forefront of humanitarian aid.

Arab Skepticism and Juridical Issues

The Emirati announcement, delivered by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a forum in Abu Dhabi, reflects Arab reservations about the terms of a American-proposed resolution already circulated to diplomats at the UN in New York. The draft places an onus on a American-led security mission to be the principal means of imposing security in the territory after Israel have left the territory.

Regional governments would prefer expanded responsibilities to be given to a distinct Palestinian civilian police force. International law would also forbid external forces from entering occupied Palestine unless there was explicit Palestinian consent; without it, the mission could be seen as imposed under international statutes, and potentially reinforcing an illegal Israeli occupation.

Local Perspectives and Appeals for Clarity

A Palestinian American co-author of the Palestinian armistice plan said: “It is essential that the force be deployed not to stabilise the illegal presence, but to uphold international law and terminate it. The force will work as long as it operates in the whole occupied territory, including the West Bank, at the invitation of Palestine, and has a defined objective to end the occupation within the context of a independent Palestinian state.”

There is no mention to the West Bank in the American proposal, or to a sovereign Palestine, or a peaceful resolution, a prospect that Israeli leadership rejects.

Ongoing Discussions and Possible Dangers

In-depth talks on the mission authority, including its command and control, started officially on Thursday in the UN headquarters, and look likely to be protracted – potentially creating the emergence of a power gap in Gaza that may empower Hamas.

The United States is suggesting that it command the mission although it will not have many troops deployed on the ground. It has previously in effect assumed command of the delivery of humanitarian aid into the territory from a new civil military coordination centre based in Israel.

Force Mandate and Administrative Function

The proposed US resolution defines the purpose of the security mission as “along with the newly trained and screened law enforcement to help secure border areas, secure the security environment in Gaza by ensuring the process of demilitarising the Gaza Strip including the destruction and prevention of reconstructing the militant and hostile facilities as well as the lasting decommissioning of weapons from non-state armed groups”.

The mission, answerable to a “board of peace” chaired by the former US president, and not to the UN, would be mandated to use “all necessary measures” to achieve its objectives.

Regional powers including Qatar are also concerned that this mandate is too expansive, and if the group is to disarm, the faction will solely do so to local counterparts, probably in the civilian police force, at a moment that, from the militant viewpoint, marks the conclusion of Israeli presence.

They also worry the draft mandate spills into granting the mission a governance function in the territory, a task that was to be set aside for a local technocratic committee working in cooperation with a restructured Palestinian Authority.

Humanitarian Aspects and Financial Issues

This “interim authority” in the strip would remain until “the local government has adequately completed its reform program, the satisfaction of which shall be acceptable to the board of peace”, the draft says. It also “emphasizes the significance” of unhindered humanitarian aid in the territory, including through the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Red Crescent.

However, it allows for the removal of “any organisation found to have misused such aid”. The phrase permits the council excluding the UN relief agency, the body that the international court of justice has ruled is the lawful distributor of aid.

Global Political Efforts

French officials and Saudi Arabia are currently advocating for a mention to a sovereign Palestine to be added in the resolution. The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is due in the White House on the specified date, and Manal Radwan has said that a reference to a independent Palestine is a prerequisite.

The PA chair, Mahmoud Abbas, held talks with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, in the French capital on Monday to review the authority's function.

Neither the UN nor the 15 strong security council are given a supervisory function over the stabilisation force, monitoring the implementation of the resolution, a point largely overlooked by the draft text. No details is outlined about the financing of this security operation, which, according to the US officials, should be largely borne by Gulf states, with the Kingdom assuming primary responsibility.

Israel's Demands and Regional Situations

Israel is seeking formal assurances from the US that it be allowed to emulate the pattern of the Lebanese situation and reserve the right to return to the territory if it believes disarmament is not occurring at a level or pace it demands.

The request was put to Jared Kushner, the ex-president's relative, and the American diplomat, Steve Witkoff. Kushner was in Jerusalem on this week to discuss developments on the ceasefire and the envoy was due to appear subsequently the same day.

Only the remains of four of the original hundreds of Israeli hostages remain not recovered.

Separately, Israel has been proposing that the Gaza Strip could yet be split in two parts with rebuilding efforts beginning in the Israel occupied areas of the strip. Western diplomats maintain that this is no part of the former US administration's proposal.