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Plans for an multinational stabilisation force mandated by the United Nations to disarm Hamas in Gaza are facing increasing resistance after the UAE stated it will not take part due to the lack of a clear legal framework.

Growing International Concerns

Israeli authorities have previously excluded Turkey participation, and the Jordanian King Abdullah has stated that Jordanian forces will not join. The Azerbaijani government, previously mooted as a possible contributor, did not attend a planning meeting in Istanbul and indicated it would not take part unless a full ceasefire was established.

The UAE lacks clarity on a clear framework for the stabilisation force and in this situation will not participate, but backs all political initiatives towards peace – and remain at the forefront of relief efforts.

Regional Doubts and Juridical Concerns

The UAE's decision, made by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in Abu Dhabi, reflects Arab doubts about the provisions of a American-proposed resolution previously circulated to diplomats at the UN in New York. The draft places an onus on a US-directed stabilisation force to be the principal means of imposing order in Gaza after Israeli forces have withdrawn from the region.

Arab states would prefer greater duties to be given to a distinct Palestinian civilian police force. International law would also prohibit foreign troops from entering contested Palestine unless there was clear Palestinian consent; otherwise, the force could be seen as imposed under UN law, and arguably stabilising an illegal presence.

Palestinian Viewpoints and Appeals for Definition

A Palestinian American co-author of the ceasefire proposal commented: “It is essential that the mission be sent not to stabilise the unlawful presence, but to enforce international law and end it. The mission will succeed as long as it operates in the whole disputed land, including the occupied territories, at the request of Palestine, and has a defined objective to conclude the presence within the framework of a independent state of Palestine.”

The draft contains no mention to the occupied territories in the US draft resolution, or to a sovereign Palestine, or a two-state solution, a outcome that Israel rejects.

Continuing Negotiations and Possible Dangers

Detailed talks on the mission mandate, including its command and control, started formally on Thursday in New York, and appear to be protracted – potentially creating the emergence of a power gap in the strip that may strengthen militant factions.

The United States is proposing that it lead the force although it will not have a large number of personnel involved on the terrain. It has already effectively taken control of the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza from a recently established civil military coordination centre based in the neighboring country.

Force Objectives and Administrative Function

The proposed American document defines the aim of the security mission as “together with the recently prepared and vetted police force to assist in protecting frontier zones, secure the safety situation in the region by guaranteeing the process of demilitarising the territory including the destruction and prevention of reconstructing the military terror and offensive infrastructure as well as the lasting removal of weapons from non-state armed groups”.

The force, answerable to a “board of peace” chaired by the former US president, and not to the UN, would be mandated to use “any required actions” to achieve its objectives.

Arab states including Qatar are also concerned that this authority is too expansive, and if Hamas is to lay down arms, the group will solely do so to fellow Palestinians, likely in the local law enforcement, at a moment that, from the Hamas viewpoint, marks the end of occupation.

They also worry the draft mandate spills into granting the stabilisation force a governance function in Gaza, a responsibility that was to be reserved for a local expert panel working in cooperation with a restructured Palestinian Authority.

Aid Aspects and Funding Issues

This “interim authority” in Gaza would stay until “the Palestinian Authority has satisfactorily completed its reform program, the satisfaction of which shall be acceptable to the BoP”, the draft states. It also “underscores the significance” of unhindered humanitarian aid in Gaza, including through the United Nations, the ICRC, and the humanitarian organizations.

However, it allows for the exclusion of “any group found to have improperly used such aid”. The phrase permits the council excluding the UN relief agency, the organization that the global judicial body has ruled is the lawful provider of assistance.

International Diplomatic Initiatives

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

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

Not the UN nor the 15 strong UNSC are assigned a supervisory role over the mission, supervising the execution of the resolution, a point mostly overlooked by the draft text. No details is outlined about the funding of this security operation, which, according to the US officials, should be largely borne by regional nations, 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 follow the model of Lebanon and reserve the authority to return to Gaza if it believes disarmament is not occurring at a level or pace it demands.

The request was put to Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s relative, and the American diplomat, Steve Witkoff. Kushner was in the Israeli capital on this week to review developments on the truce and Witkoff was due to arrive later the that day.

Only the bodies of four of the original 251 captives are still unreturned.

Separately, Israeli officials has been suggesting that the territory could yet be divided in two with reconstruction work starting in the Israel occupied areas of the region. Western diplomats insist that this is no part of the former US administration's proposal.