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Plans for an multinational stabilisation force authorized by the UN to demilitarize the militant group in Gaza are facing growing resistance after the UAE announced it will not join due to the absence of a well-defined legal framework.

Growing International Concerns

Israel have already ruled out Turkey participation, and Jordan's King Abdullah has declared that his country's troops will not participate. The Azerbaijani government, previously mooted as a potential contributor, did not attend a preparatory meeting in Turkey and said it would not take part unless a complete ceasefire was in place.

The UAE does not yet see a clear framework for the stability force and in this situation declines involvement, but backs all diplomatic initiatives towards peace – and stay at the vanguard of relief efforts.

Regional Doubts and Juridical Issues

The Emirati decision, delivered by senior envoy Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in the UAE capital, highlights regional doubts about the terms of a American-proposed document previously distributed to diplomats at the UN in New York. The draft places an onus on a American-led stabilisation force to be the principal means of ensuring security in the territory after Israeli forces have left the region.

Regional governments would like greater duties to be assigned to a separate local law enforcement agency. Global jurisprudence would also prohibit foreign troops from entering occupied Palestinian territories unless there was clear Palestinian consent; otherwise, the force could be viewed as imposed under UN law, and potentially stabilising an unlawful presence.

Palestinian Perspectives and Appeals for Clarity

A Palestinian American co-author of the ceasefire proposal commented: “It is critical that the mission be sent not to reinforce the illegal presence, but to enforce global standards and terminate it. The force will work as long as it enters the entire disputed land, including the occupied territories, at the request of Palestine, and has a clear objective to conclude the presence within the context of a independent state of Palestine.”

There is no reference to the occupied territories in the US draft resolution, or to a sovereign Palestine, or a peaceful resolution, a outcome that Israeli leadership rejects.

Ongoing Discussions and Potential Dangers

Detailed negotiations on the stabilisation force mandate, including its leadership structure, started officially on last week in New York, and look likely to be lengthy – risking the emergence of a vacuum in the strip that may empower militant factions.

The United States is suggesting that it lead the mission although it will not have many troops involved on the terrain. It has previously in effect assumed command of the distribution of humanitarian aid into Gaza from a recently established logistical hub based in Israel.

Force Mandate and Administrative Role

The draft American document defines the aim of the security mission as “together with the recently prepared and screened law enforcement to help secure border areas, secure the safety situation in the region by guaranteeing the procedure of demilitarising the territory including the elimination and blocking of reconstructing the militant and hostile facilities as well as the lasting decommissioning of arms from non-state armed groups”.

The mission, answerable to a “peace council” chaired by the former US president, and not to the United Nations, would be required to use “any required actions” to fulfill its goals.

Arab states including Qatar are also concerned that this authority is too expansive, and if Hamas is to disarm, the group will only do so to local counterparts, probably in the civilian police force, at a moment that, from the Hamas perspective, marks the conclusion of occupation.

They also worry the draft mandate spills into granting the stabilisation force a administrative function in the territory, a responsibility that was to be set aside for a Palestinian technocratic committee working in conjunction with a restructured Palestinian Authority.

Aid Aspects and Financial Issues

This “interim authority” in Gaza would remain until “the local government has satisfactorily finished its reform program, the satisfaction of which shall be approved to the BoP”, the draft says. It also “underscores the significance” of unhindered humanitarian aid in Gaza, including through the UN, the ICRC, and the humanitarian organizations.

However, it allows for the exclusion of “any organisation determined to have misused such assistance”. The phrase permits the board of peace barring the UN relief agency, the body that the global judicial body has ruled is the lawful distributor of aid.

International Diplomatic Initiatives

France and Saudi Arabia are currently pressing for a mention to a sovereign Palestine to be included in the resolution. The Saudi leader, Mohammed bin Salman, is scheduled in the US presidential residence on the specified date, and a Saudi foreign ministry official has stated that a mention to a Palestinian state is a requirement.

The Palestinian Authority leader, Mahmoud Abbas, met the French leader, Emmanuel Macron, in the French capital on this week to review the authority's function.

Not the UN nor the 15 strong security council are given a oversight role over the stabilisation force, supervising the execution of the proposal, a point largely ignored by the draft text. Nothing is outlined about the financing of this security operation, which, according to the Americans, should be largely covered by Gulf states, with Saudi Arabia assuming primary responsibility.

Israel's Demands and Local Situations

Israel is requesting written guarantees from the United States that it be allowed to follow the model of the Lebanese situation and reserve the right to return to the territory if it believes disarmament is not taking place at a level or pace it demands.

The Israeli proposal was put to the former US advisor, the ex-president's relative, and the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff. Kushner was in the Israeli capital on Monday to discuss developments on the truce and Witkoff was scheduled to appear later the same day.

Only the remains of a small number of the original 251 Israeli hostages are still not recovered.

Independently, Israeli officials has been suggesting that the territory could yet be split in two with reconstruction work starting in the Israeli-controlled areas of the strip. International officials insist that this is no part of the Trump plan.