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Plans for an multinational stabilisation force mandated by the UN to disarm the militant group in the Gaza Strip are encountering growing opposition after the United Arab Emirates announced it will not take part due to the lack of a clear legal framework.

Growing International Reservations

Israeli authorities have already ruled out Turkey participation, and the Jordanian King Abdullah has stated that Jordanian troops will not join. The Azerbaijani government, previously considered as a potential participant, was absent from a planning session in Turkey and indicated it would not take part unless a full truce was established.

The UAE does not yet see a clear framework for the stabilisation force and under such circumstances will not participate, but backs all political efforts towards resolution – and stay at the forefront of humanitarian aid.

Arab Skepticism and Juridical Concerns

The Emirati announcement, delivered by senior envoy Dr Anwar Gargash at a forum in Abu Dhabi, highlights Arab reservations about the provisions of a American-proposed resolution previously circulated to delegates at the UN in New York. The draft assigns responsibility on a American-led stabilisation force to be the primary means of ensuring security in Gaza after Israel have withdrawn from the territory.

Regional governments would prefer greater duties to be assigned to a separate Palestinian civilian police force. Global jurisprudence would also prohibit foreign troops from deploying into occupied Palestine unless there was explicit local approval; otherwise, the force could be seen as imposed under international statutes, and arguably reinforcing an unlawful Israeli occupation.

Palestinian Viewpoints and Calls for Clarity

A Palestinian American co-author of the Palestinian armistice plan commented: “It is critical that the mission be sent not to reinforce the illegal presence, but to uphold global standards 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 the Palestinian authorities, and has a defined objective to end the occupation within the context of a sovereign state of Palestine.”

There is no mention to the West Bank in the American proposal, or to a sovereign Palestine, or a two-state solution, a prospect that Israel opposes.

Ongoing Negotiations and Possible Dangers

In-depth negotiations on the stabilisation force authority, including its leadership structure, began formally on last week in the UN headquarters, and look likely to be lengthy – risking the emergence of a vacuum in the strip that may empower militant factions.

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

Mission Objectives and Governance Function

The draft American document defines the purpose of the security mission as “along with the recently prepared and screened police force to assist in protecting frontier zones, stabilise the safety situation in the region by guaranteeing the process of disarming the territory 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 force, answerable to a “peace council” led by the former US president, and not to the United Nations, would be mandated to use “all necessary measures” to fulfill its goals.

Regional powers including Qatar are also concerned that this mandate is too expansive, and if the group is to disarm, the faction will only do so to local counterparts, likely in the local law enforcement, at a time that, from the militant perspective, signifies the conclusion of occupation.

They also worry the proposed authority spills into granting the mission a administrative role in Gaza, a task that was to be reserved for a Palestinian expert panel working in conjunction with a restructured Palestinian Authority.

Humanitarian Considerations and Funding Issues

This “interim authority” in Gaza would remain until “the local government has satisfactorily finished its restructuring plan, the approval of which shall be acceptable to the BoP”, the proposal states. It also “underscores the importance” of full humanitarian aid in Gaza, including through the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the humanitarian organizations.

Nonetheless, it allows for the removal of “any organisation found to have improperly used such assistance”. The phrase permits the board of peace barring the UN relief agency, the organization that the global judicial body has ruled is the lawful distributor of aid.

Global Diplomatic Efforts

France and Saudi representatives are already 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 mention to a independent Palestine is a prerequisite.

The PA chair, Mahmoud Abbas, held talks with the French leader, Emmanuel Macron, in the French capital on this week to discuss the PA role.

Not the United Nations nor the 15 strong UNSC are given a oversight role over the stabilisation force, monitoring the implementation of the proposal, a point largely overlooked by the draft text. Nothing is outlined about the financing of this security operation, which, as per the Americans, should be mostly covered by Gulf states, with the Kingdom assuming primary responsibility.

Israel's Requests and Regional Developments

Israeli authorities is seeking written guarantees from the United States that it be permitted to follow the model of the Lebanese situation and reserve the authority to re-enter Gaza if it believes demilitarization is not taking place at a scale or pace it demands.

The request was put to Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, and the American diplomat, Steve Witkoff. The advisor was in Jerusalem on this week to review developments on the ceasefire and Witkoff was due to appear subsequently the that day.

Only the remains of a small number of the initial hundreds of Israeli hostages remain unreturned.

Independently, Israeli officials has been suggesting that the Gaza Strip could yet be split in two with rebuilding efforts beginning in the Israeli-controlled parts of the strip. International officials maintain that this is not part of the Trump plan.