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Plans for an multinational security mission mandated by the UN to demilitarize Hamas in Gaza are encountering growing opposition after the UAE stated it would not take part due to the absence of a clear legal framework.

Increasing International Reservations

Israel have previously ruled out Turkey participation, and the Jordanian King Abdullah has declared that Jordanian forces will not join. The Azerbaijani government, once mooted as a possible contributor, did not attend a preparatory session in Istanbul and said it would not contribute unless a complete truce was established.

Emirati officials lacks clarity on a defined structure for the stabilisation force and under such circumstances declines involvement, but backs all political efforts towards peace – and remain at the forefront of relief efforts.

Arab Skepticism and Legal Concerns

The UAE's announcement, delivered by senior envoy Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in Abu Dhabi, reflects Arab doubts about the provisions of a American-proposed resolution previously circulated to delegates at the UN in New York. The proposal assigns responsibility on a US-directed security mission to be the principal means of imposing security in the territory after Israeli forces have withdrawn from the territory.

Regional governments would prefer greater responsibilities to be given to a separate Palestinian law enforcement agency. Global jurisprudence would also forbid external forces from deploying into occupied Palestine unless there was explicit local approval; without it, the force could be viewed as coercive under UN law, and arguably reinforcing an unlawful presence.

Local Perspectives and Appeals for Definition

A Palestinian American co-author of the Palestinian armistice plan commented: “It is critical that the force be deployed not to stabilise the illegal presence, but to uphold global standards and terminate it. The mission will work as long as it operates in the whole occupied territory, including the West Bank, at the request of Palestine, and has a clear objective to conclude the occupation within the framework of a sovereign Palestinian state.”

The draft contains no reference to the occupied territories in the American proposal, or to a sovereign Palestine, or a peaceful resolution, a prospect that Israeli leadership opposes.

Ongoing Discussions and Potential Risks

Detailed talks on the stabilisation force mandate, including its command and control, began officially on Thursday in New York, and look likely to be lengthy – potentially creating the development of a vacuum in the strip that may strengthen Hamas.

The United States is proposing that it lead the mission although it will not have a large number of personnel deployed on the ground. It has already in effect assumed command of the distribution of humanitarian aid into Gaza from a recently established logistical hub based in the neighboring country.

Force Objectives and Administrative Function

The proposed US resolution outlines the purpose of the security mission as “together with the newly trained and screened law enforcement to assist in protecting border areas, secure the security environment in Gaza by guaranteeing the process of demilitarising the Gaza Strip including the elimination and blocking of reconstructing the military terror and offensive infrastructure as well as the lasting removal of arms from non-state armed groups”.

The mission, reporting to a “board of peace” chaired by Donald Trump, and not to the United Nations, would be mandated to use “any required actions” to fulfill its goals.

Arab states including Qatar are also worried that this mandate is too expansive, and if the group is to disarm, the group will solely do so to local counterparts, probably in the local law enforcement, at a moment that, from the militant viewpoint, signifies the conclusion of Israeli presence.

They also worry the proposed authority extends to giving the mission a governance function in Gaza, a responsibility that was to be set aside for a local technocratic committee working in conjunction with a reformed local government.

Humanitarian Aspects and Funding Questions

This “interim authority” in the strip would stay until “the Palestinian Authority has adequately finished its reform program, the approval of which shall be acceptable to the BoP”, the proposal states. It also “underscores the importance” of unhindered humanitarian aid in Gaza, including through the UN, the ICRC, and the Red Crescent.

However, it opens the door the removal of “any organisation found to have misused such aid”. The wording leaves open the board of peace barring Unrwa, the body that the international court of justice has ruled is the legal provider of assistance.

Global Political Initiatives

France and Saudi representatives are already advocating for a reference to a Palestinian state to be added in the resolution. The Saudi leader, Mohammed bin Salman, is due in the White House on the specified date, and Manal Radwan has stated that a reference to a Palestinian state is a requirement.

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

Neither the United Nations nor the 15 strong UNSC are assigned a oversight function over the mission, supervising the execution of the proposal, a aspect largely overlooked by the draft text. Nothing is specified about the funding of this security operation, which, according to the Americans, should be largely borne by regional nations, with the Kingdom assuming primary responsibility.

Israeli Requests and Local Developments

Israel is requesting formal assurances from the US that it be allowed to emulate the model of Lebanon and reserve the right to re-enter Gaza if it considers disarmament is not occurring at a level or pace it requires.

The request was presented to the former US advisor, the ex-president's relative, and the American diplomat, Steve Witkoff. The advisor was in the Israeli capital on this week to review progress on the ceasefire and Witkoff was scheduled to appear later the same day.

Only the remains of four of the initial hundreds of Israeli hostages are still unreturned.

Independently, Israeli officials has been proposing that the Gaza Strip could yet be split in two parts with rebuilding efforts starting in the Israeli-controlled parts of the strip. Western diplomats insist that this is not part of the Trump plan.