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Proposals for an international security mission mandated by the UN to disarm the militant group in Gaza are encountering growing opposition after the UAE announced it will not take part due to the lack of a clear legal structure.

Growing International Reservations

Israeli authorities have previously excluded Turkey participation, and Jordan's King Abdullah has stated that his country's troops will not join. Azerbaijan, previously mooted as a possible contributor, did not attend a planning session in Istanbul and said it would not contribute unless a full truce was established.

The UAE lacks clarity on a clear structure for the stabilisation mission and under such circumstances declines involvement, but will support all political initiatives towards resolution – and remain at the vanguard of humanitarian aid.

Arab Skepticism and Legal Concerns

The UAE's decision, made by senior envoy Dr Anwar Gargash at a forum in Abu Dhabi, reflects regional reservations about the terms of a American-proposed document previously circulated to delegates at the UN in New York. The draft assigns responsibility on a American-led security mission to be the principal means of ensuring security in the territory after Israeli forces have withdrawn from the region.

Regional governments would prefer expanded duties to be given to a distinct Palestinian law enforcement agency. Global jurisprudence would also forbid foreign troops from entering contested Palestinian territories unless there was clear Palestinian consent; without it, the force could be viewed as imposed under UN law, and arguably reinforcing an illegal presence.

Local Perspectives and Appeals for Definition

Jamal Nusseibeh of the Palestinian armistice plan commented: “It is essential that the mission be deployed not to stabilise the unlawful presence, but to uphold international law and end it. The force will work as long as it operates in the whole occupied territory, including the occupied territories, at the request of the Palestinian authorities, and has a clear objective to conclude the occupation within the framework of a sovereign state of Palestine.”

The draft contains no mention to the occupied territories in the US draft resolution, or to a Palestinian state, or a peaceful resolution, a outcome that Israel rejects.

Ongoing Negotiations and Potential Risks

Detailed talks on the mission authority, including its leadership structure, started formally on last week in the UN headquarters, and appear to be lengthy – potentially creating the development of a vacuum in Gaza that may empower militant factions.

The United States is proposing that it command the force although it will not have a large number of personnel 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.

Force Mandate and Administrative Function

The draft US resolution defines the purpose of the stabilisation force as “together with the recently prepared and vetted police force to assist in protecting border areas, secure the security environment in Gaza by guaranteeing the procedure of disarming the territory including the destruction and blocking of reconstructing the military terror and hostile facilities as well as the permanent removal of weapons from militant factions”.

The force, 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 the group is to lay down arms, the group will solely do so to fellow Palestinians, probably in the local law enforcement, at a moment that, from the militant viewpoint, signifies 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 reserved for a Palestinian expert panel working in conjunction with a restructured Palestinian Authority.

Humanitarian Aspects and Financial Issues

This “transitional governance administration” in the strip would remain until “the local government has satisfactorily completed its reform program, the approval of which shall be acceptable to the BoP”, the proposal says. It also “emphasizes the significance” of unhindered humanitarian aid in the territory, including through the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Red Crescent.

However, it opens the door the removal of “any organisation found to have improperly used such aid”. The wording permits the board of peace barring Unrwa, the organization that the international court of justice has ruled is the lawful provider of aid.

International Diplomatic Efforts

France and Saudi representatives are currently pressing for a reference to a Palestinian state to be added in the document. The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is due in the US presidential residence on the specified date, and Manal Radwan 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 Paris on this week to review the PA role.

Neither the UN nor the 15 strong UNSC are assigned a oversight function over the mission, 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, as per the Americans, should be largely covered by regional nations, with the Kingdom taking the lead.

Israeli Demands and Local Situations

Israel is seeking written guarantees from the US that it be permitted to follow the pattern of Lebanon and retain the right to re-enter Gaza if it considers disarmament is not taking place at a level or pace it requires.

The Israeli proposal was presented to Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s relative, and the American diplomat, Steve Witkoff. The advisor was in Jerusalem on this week to review progress on the truce and the envoy was scheduled to appear subsequently the that day.

Only the remains of four of the initial 251 captives are still unreturned.

Independently, Israel has been proposing that the Gaza Strip could yet be split in two parts with reconstruction work starting in the Israel occupied areas of the region. International officials maintain that this is not part of the Trump plan.