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Plans for an international stabilisation force mandated by the United Nations to disarm the militant group in Gaza are encountering growing resistance after the UAE announced it would not join due to the lack of a clear legal framework.

Increasing Global Reservations

Israel have previously excluded Turkish involvement, and the Jordanian King Abdullah has stated that Jordanian troops will not participate. Azerbaijan, previously mooted as a potential contributor, did not attend a preparatory meeting in Turkey and said it would not take part unless a complete truce was established.

The UAE lacks clarity on a clear structure for the stability mission and in this situation declines involvement, but backs all diplomatic initiatives towards peace – and stay at the forefront of relief efforts.

Arab Doubts and Legal Concerns

The UAE's decision, delivered by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a forum in the UAE capital, reflects Arab doubts about the provisions of a American-proposed document previously distributed to delegates at the UN in NYC. The proposal places an onus on a US-directed security mission to be the principal means of imposing order in the territory after Israeli forces have withdrawn from the region.

Regional governments would prefer greater responsibilities to be given to a separate Palestinian law enforcement agency. International law would also forbid foreign troops from entering contested Palestinian territories unless there was explicit Palestinian consent; without it, the force could be viewed as imposed under international statutes, and potentially reinforcing an unlawful presence.

Local Viewpoints and Appeals for Clarity

A Palestinian American co-author of the Palestinian armistice plan said: “It is critical that the force be deployed not to reinforce the unlawful presence, but to uphold international law and end it. The mission will work as long as it enters the whole disputed land, including the occupied territories, at the request of Palestine, and has a defined objective to end the presence within the context of a sovereign Palestinian state.”

There is no reference to the West Bank in the American proposal, or to a Palestinian state, or a peaceful resolution, a outcome that Israel opposes.

Ongoing Discussions and Potential Risks

In-depth negotiations on the stabilisation force mandate, including its command and control, began officially on Thursday in New York, and appear to be protracted – risking the emergence of a power gap in Gaza that may empower Hamas.

The United States is proposing that it lead the mission although it will not have many personnel deployed on the ground. It has previously effectively taken control of the delivery of humanitarian aid into the territory from a recently established logistical hub based in Israel.

Mission Objectives and Administrative Function

The draft US resolution outlines the purpose of the stabilisation force as “along with the newly trained and screened police force to help secure border areas, stabilise the security environment in the region by ensuring the process of disarming the Gaza Strip including the elimination and prevention of reconstructing the military terror and hostile facilities as well as the permanent removal of weapons from non-state armed groups”.

The mission, reporting to a “peace council” chaired by the former US president, and not to the United Nations, would be required to use “all necessary measures” to achieve its goals.

Regional powers including Qatari officials are also concerned that this mandate is too expansive, and if the group is to lay down arms, the group will solely do so to local counterparts, probably in the local law enforcement, at a moment that, from the militant viewpoint, signifies the end of occupation.

They also worry the proposed authority extends to giving the stabilisation force a governance role in Gaza, a responsibility that was to be set aside for a Palestinian expert panel working in cooperation with a reformed local government.

Aid Aspects and Financial Questions

This “interim authority” in Gaza would remain until “the Palestinian Authority has satisfactorily finished its restructuring plan, the satisfaction of which shall be acceptable to the BoP”, the proposal says. It also “emphasizes the significance” of unhindered humanitarian aid in Gaza, including through the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Red Crescent.

However, it opens the door the removal of “any organisation found to have misused such assistance”. The phrase permits the council excluding the UN relief agency, the organization that the international court of justice has said is the lawful provider of aid.

International Political Initiatives

France and Saudi Arabia are already pressing for a reference to a Palestinian state to be included in the resolution. The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is scheduled in the US presidential residence on 18 November, and a Saudi foreign ministry official has stated that a mention to a independent Palestine is a requirement.

The Palestinian Authority leader, Mahmoud Abbas, met the French leader, Emmanuel Macron, in the French capital on this week to discuss the PA role.

Not the UN nor the 15-member security council are given a supervisory function over the stabilisation force, supervising the implementation of the proposal, a point largely ignored by the proposed document. No details is specified about the financing of this security operation, which, as per the Americans, should be largely covered by Gulf states, with Saudi Arabia taking the lead.

Israel's Requests and Regional Situations

Israel is requesting written guarantees from the United States that it be permitted to emulate the pattern of the Lebanese situation and retain the authority to return to the territory if it believes demilitarization is not occurring at a level or pace it demands.

The Israeli proposal was put to the former US advisor, Donald Trump’s relative, and the American diplomat, Steve Witkoff. Kushner was in Jerusalem on Monday to discuss developments on the truce and Witkoff was due to arrive subsequently the that day.

Only the remains of four of the original 251 Israeli hostages are still not recovered.

Separately, Israel has been proposing that the Gaza Strip could yet be split in two parts with reconstruction work starting in the Israeli-controlled areas of the strip. International officials insist that this is not part of the Trump plan.