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Plans for an international security mission mandated by the United Nations to demilitarize the militant group in Gaza are facing growing opposition after the UAE stated it would not take part due to the absence of a well-defined legal framework.

Increasing International Reservations

Israel have already ruled out Turkish involvement, and the Jordanian King Abdullah has declared that Jordanian forces will not participate. Azerbaijan, once considered as a possible participant, did not attend a planning session in Istanbul and said it would not take part unless a full truce was established.

The UAE lacks clarity on a defined framework for the stabilisation force and under such circumstances declines involvement, but will support all political efforts towards peace – and remain at the forefront of humanitarian aid.

Regional Doubts and Juridical Concerns

The Emirati decision, made by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in the UAE capital, reflects Arab doubts about the provisions of a US-drafted resolution already distributed to diplomats at the UN in New York. The draft assigns responsibility on a US-directed security mission to be the principal means of imposing security in the territory after Israel have withdrawn from the territory.

Arab states would like greater duties to be given to a distinct Palestinian civilian police force. International law would also forbid foreign troops from entering occupied Palestinian territories unless there was clear local approval; otherwise, the force could be viewed as coercive under international statutes, and arguably stabilising an unlawful presence.

Palestinian Viewpoints and Appeals for Clarity

Jamal Nusseibeh of the Palestinian armistice plan commented: “It is critical that the mission be deployed not to reinforce the illegal presence, but to enforce international law and end it. The force will work as long as it enters the whole disputed land, including the occupied territories, at the invitation of Palestine, and has a defined objective to end the occupation within the framework of a sovereign Palestinian state.”

The draft contains no mention to the West Bank in the US draft resolution, or to a Palestinian state, or a peaceful resolution, a outcome that Israel opposes.

Continuing Discussions and Possible Dangers

Detailed talks on the stabilisation force authority, including its leadership structure, began officially on last week in the UN headquarters, and appear to be protracted – risking the development of a power gap in the strip that may empower militant factions.

The US is suggesting that it lead the force although it will not have a large number of troops deployed on the terrain. It has already effectively taken control of the distribution of relief supplies into the territory from a recently established logistical hub based in Israel.

Force Objectives and Governance Role

The draft American document outlines the purpose of the security mission as “along with the newly trained and vetted law enforcement to help secure frontier zones, secure the safety situation in Gaza by guaranteeing the process of disarming the territory including the elimination and prevention of rebuilding the militant and hostile facilities as well as the permanent decommissioning of weapons from militant factions”.

The force, answerable to a “peace council” chaired by Donald Trump, and not to the UN, would be mandated to use “all necessary measures” to fulfill its goals.

Regional powers including Qatari officials are also worried that this authority is too expansive, and if the group is to lay down arms, the group will only do so to fellow Palestinians, probably in the civilian police force, at a moment that, from the militant viewpoint, marks the conclusion of occupation.

They also worry the proposed authority extends to giving the mission a administrative role in the territory, a task that was to be reserved for a local expert panel working in conjunction with a reformed local government.

Aid Aspects and Funding Issues

This “interim authority” in the strip would remain until “the local government has satisfactorily completed its reform program, the approval of which shall be acceptable to the board of peace”, the draft states. It also “underscores the importance” of unhindered relief in the territory, including through the UN, the ICRC, and the Red Crescent.

However, it opens the door the removal of “any group found to have improperly used such aid”. The phrase permits the council excluding the UN relief agency, the body that the global judicial body has said is the lawful provider of assistance.

International Political Initiatives

France and Saudi representatives are currently advocating for a mention to a Palestinian state to be included in the document. The Saudi leader, Mohammed bin Salman, is due in the US presidential residence on 18 November, and a Saudi foreign ministry official has stated that a mention to a independent Palestine is a prerequisite.

The Palestinian Authority leader, Mahmoud Abbas, held talks with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, in the French capital on Monday to discuss the authority's function.

Neither the UN nor the 15 strong security council are given a oversight function over the stabilisation force, supervising the implementation of the proposal, a aspect mostly overlooked by the draft text. No details is specified about the financing of this security operation, which, according to the Americans, should be mostly borne by Gulf states, with the Kingdom assuming primary responsibility.

Israeli Demands and Local Developments

Israeli authorities is requesting written guarantees from the US that it be permitted to emulate the model of Lebanon and reserve the authority to re-enter the territory if it considers disarmament is not occurring at a scale or pace it requires.

The Israeli proposal was put to the former US advisor, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, and the American diplomat, Steve Witkoff. The advisor was in the Israeli capital on Monday to discuss developments on the truce and Witkoff was scheduled to appear later the that day.

Only the remains of four of the original hundreds of Israeli hostages remain unreturned.

Separately, Israel has been proposing that the Gaza Strip could yet be split in two parts with rebuilding efforts beginning in the Israeli-controlled areas of the strip. Western diplomats insist that this is not part of the former US administration's proposal.