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Plans for an multinational security mission mandated by the United Nations to disarm the militant group in the Gaza Strip are facing growing opposition after the UAE announced it will not take part due to the absence of a clear legal framework.

Growing International Reservations

Israeli authorities have previously ruled out Turkish involvement, and Jordan's King Abdullah has declared that Jordanian forces will not participate. Azerbaijan, previously mooted as a possible participant, was absent from a preparatory session in Istanbul and indicated it would not contribute unless a full truce was in place.

The UAE does not yet see a clear structure for the stabilisation mission and in this situation declines involvement, but backs all diplomatic efforts towards resolution – and remain at the vanguard of humanitarian aid.

Regional Doubts and Legal Concerns

The Emirati decision, made by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in Abu Dhabi, reflects Arab doubts about the terms of a US-drafted resolution previously distributed to delegates at the UN in New York. The draft assigns responsibility 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a US-directed security mission to be the principal means of imposing order in the territory after Israeli forces have withdrawn from the region.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 expanded responsibilities to be assigned to a distinct local civilian police force. Global jurisprudence would also prohibit external forces from deploying into occupied Palestinian territories unless there was explicit Palestinian consent; without it, the force could be seen as imposed under international statutes, and arguably reinforcing an illegal presence.

Palestinian Perspectives and Appeals for Definition

A Palestinian American co-author of the ceasefire proposal said: “It is critical that the force be deployed not to stabilise the illegal presence, but to enforce global standards and end it. The force will work as long as it enters the entire disputed land, including the West Bank, at the invitation of the Palestinian authorities, and has a defined objective to end the presence within the context of a independent Palestinian state.”

There is no reference to the occupied territories in the American proposal, or to a Palestinian state, or a two-state solution, a outcome that Israeli leadership opposes.

Continuing Negotiations and Potential Dangers

In-depth talks on the stabilisation force authority, including its leadership structure, began formally on Thursday in New York, and look likely to be protracted – potentially creating the emergence of a vacuum in the strip that may strengthen Hamas.

The United States is suggesting that it lead the force although it will not have many troops involved on the ground. It has previously effectively taken control of the distribution of relief supplies into the territory from a new logistical hub based in the neighboring country.

Mission Objectives and Administrative Function

The proposed US resolution defines the aim of the stabilisation force as “along with the newly trained and vetted police force to assist in protecting border areas, secure the safety situation in the region by ensuring the process of demilitarising the territory including the destruction and blocking of reconstructing the militant 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 Donald Trump, and not to the UN, would be mandated to use “all necessary measures” to fulfill its objectives.

Arab states including Qatar are also worried that this authority is overly broad, and if the group is to disarm, the group will only do so to local counterparts, probably in the civilian police force, at a time that, from the militant viewpoint, signifies the end of occupation.

They also fear the draft mandate extends to giving the stabilisation force a governance function in the territory, a task that was to be set aside for a Palestinian technocratic committee working in conjunction with a restructured local government.

Aid Aspects and Financial Issues

This “interim authority” in Gaza would remain until “the Palestinian Authority has adequately finished its reform program, the satisfaction of which shall be approved to the board of peace”, the draft states. It also “emphasizes the significance” of unhindered relief in Gaza, including through the United Nations, the ICRC, and the humanitarian organizations.

However, it allows for the removal of “any group determined to have improperly used such aid”. The wording permits the council excluding Unrwa, the organization that the global judicial body has said is the lawful provider of aid.

Global Diplomatic Efforts

France and Saudi representatives are already pressing for a reference to a sovereign Palestine to be added in the resolution. The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is scheduled in the White House on 18 November, and a Saudi foreign ministry official has stated that a reference to a independent Palestine is a requirement.

The Palestinian Authority leader, Mahmoud Abbas, held talks with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, in Paris on Monday to review the PA role.

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 mostly ignored by the proposed document. No details is specified about the financing of this stabilisation mission, which, according to the US officials, should be mostly covered by regional nations, with the Kingdom taking the lead.

Israel's Requests and Regional Developments

Israel is seeking written guarantees from the United States that it be allowed to follow the pattern of Lebanon and reserve the authority to re-enter Gaza if it believes demilitarization is not taking place at a scale or pace it demands.

The Israeli proposal was put to the former US advisor, Donald Trump’s relative, and the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff. Kushner was in Jerusalem on Monday to review progress on the truce and the envoy was scheduled to arrive later the same day.

Just the bodies of four of the original hundreds of Israeli hostages are still unreturned.

Independently, Israel has been proposing that the territory could still be divided in two with reconstruction work starting in the Israeli-controlled areas of the region. International officials insist that this is no part of the former US administration's proposal.