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Proposals for an multinational stabilisation force mandated by the United Nations to demilitarize the militant group in Gaza are encountering increasing resistance after the United Arab Emirates stated it will not join due to the lack of a well-defined legal structure.

Growing International Concerns

Israel have already excluded Turkey participation, and Jordan's King Abdullah has declared that Jordanian troops will not join. Azerbaijan, once considered as a possible participant, did not attend a preparatory session in Istanbul and indicated it would not take part unless a complete ceasefire was established.

The UAE does not yet see a clear framework for the stabilisation force and under such circumstances declines involvement, but will support all diplomatic initiatives towards resolution – and remain at the vanguard of humanitarian aid.

Regional Skepticism and Legal Concerns

The UAE's announcement, delivered by senior envoy Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in the UAE capital, reflects regional reservations about the provisions of a US-drafted document previously distributed to delegates at the UN in New York. The draft places an onus on a US-directed stabilisation force to be the primary means of imposing security in the territory after Israel have withdrawn from the region.

Regional governments would like greater responsibilities to be assigned to a distinct Palestinian civilian police force. International law would also forbid foreign troops from entering occupied Palestine unless there was explicit Palestinian consent; without it, the mission could be seen as coercive under UN law, and arguably reinforcing an unlawful Israeli occupation.

Palestinian Perspectives and Appeals for Clarity

Jamal Nusseibeh of the Palestinian armistice plan commented: “It is critical that the force be deployed not to stabilise the unlawful Israeli occupation, but to enforce global standards and terminate it. The force will succeed as long as it enters the entire disputed land, including the West Bank, at the invitation of the Palestinian authorities, and has a clear objective to end the occupation within the context of a sovereign Palestinian state.”

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

Continuing Discussions and Potential Risks

In-depth talks on the stabilisation force mandate, including its leadership structure, began formally on last week in New York, and look likely to be protracted – potentially creating the development of a power gap in Gaza that may empower Hamas.

The United States is suggesting that it lead the force although it will not have a large number of personnel involved on the ground. It has already in effect assumed command of the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza from a new logistical hub based in Israel.

Mission Objectives and Governance Role

The draft US resolution defines the purpose of the security mission as “along with the newly trained and vetted police force to help secure border areas, stabilise the security environment in Gaza by guaranteeing the procedure of disarming the Gaza Strip including the destruction and blocking of rebuilding the military terror and hostile facilities as well as the permanent 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 required to use “any required actions” to achieve its objectives.

Arab states including Qatar are also concerned that this authority is too expansive, and if the group is to disarm, the faction will solely do so to local counterparts, likely in the civilian police force, at a moment that, from the Hamas perspective, signifies the end 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 reserved for a local expert panel working in cooperation with a reformed local government.

Aid Considerations and Funding Questions

This “transitional governance administration” in Gaza would stay until “the local government has adequately finished its restructuring plan, the approval of which shall be acceptable to the board of peace”, the draft states. It also “underscores the importance” of unhindered humanitarian aid in the territory, including through the UN, the ICRC, and the humanitarian organizations.

However, it opens the door the exclusion of “any group found to have improperly used such assistance”. The phrase leaves open the board of peace excluding Unrwa, the body that the international court of justice has ruled is the lawful distributor of assistance.

Global Diplomatic Efforts

French officials and Saudi Arabia are currently advocating for a reference to a sovereign Palestine to be added in the document. The Saudi leader, Mohammed bin Salman, is due in the US presidential residence on the specified date, and a Saudi foreign ministry official has stated that a reference to a Palestinian state is a prerequisite.

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

Not the UN nor the 15 strong security council are assigned a oversight function over the stabilisation force, monitoring the execution of the resolution, a aspect mostly overlooked by the draft text. No details is specified about the funding of this stabilisation mission, which, as per the US officials, should be mostly borne by Gulf states, with Saudi Arabia taking the lead.

Israeli Demands and Local Situations

Israel is requesting written guarantees from the United States that it be allowed to emulate the pattern of Lebanon and retain the right to re-enter Gaza if it believes disarmament is not taking place at a level or pace it demands.

The Israeli proposal was presented to the former US advisor, the ex-president's relative, and the American diplomat, Steve Witkoff. Kushner was in the Israeli capital on this week to review progress on the ceasefire and the envoy was due to arrive subsequently the that day.

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

Separately, Israel has been suggesting that the Gaza Strip could still be divided in two parts with reconstruction work beginning in the Israeli-controlled parts of the strip. Western diplomats maintain that this is not part of the former US administration's proposal.