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Plans for an international stabilisation force authorized by the United Nations to demilitarize the militant group in Gaza are encountering growing resistance after the UAE stated it would not take part due to the lack of a well-defined legal framework.

Increasing International Concerns

Israeli authorities have already ruled out Turkey involvement, and Jordan's King Abdullah has stated that his country's forces will not participate. Azerbaijan, once considered as a possible participant, did not attend a planning session in Istanbul and indicated it would not take part unless a full truce was established.

The UAE lacks clarity on a defined structure for the stabilisation force and under such circumstances will not participate, but will support all diplomatic initiatives towards peace – and stay at the forefront of humanitarian aid.

Regional Skepticism and Juridical Concerns

The UAE's announcement, delivered by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in Abu Dhabi, reflects regional doubts about the provisions of a US-drafted resolution previously circulated to diplomats at the UN in New York. The proposal places an onus on a US-directed stabilisation force to be the primary means of imposing order in the territory after Israeli forces have withdrawn from the territory.

Arab states would prefer expanded responsibilities to be assigned to a distinct Palestinian civilian police force. International law would also forbid external forces from entering occupied Palestine unless there was explicit local approval; otherwise, the force could be viewed as coercive under UN law, and arguably stabilising an unlawful Israeli occupation.

Local Viewpoints and Appeals for Clarity

A Palestinian American co-author of the Palestinian armistice plan said: “It is essential that the mission be deployed not to reinforce the illegal Israeli occupation, but to enforce international law and end it. The mission will succeed 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 sovereign Palestinian state.”

The draft contains no mention to the West Bank in the US draft resolution, or to a Palestinian state, or a two-state solution, a outcome that Israel rejects.

Ongoing Discussions and Possible Dangers

Detailed negotiations on the mission mandate, including its command and control, started officially on last week in the UN headquarters, and appear to be lengthy – potentially creating the emergence 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 troops deployed on the ground. It has previously in effect assumed command of the distribution of relief supplies into the territory from a new civil military coordination centre based in Israel.

Mission Objectives and Administrative Role

The draft US resolution defines the aim of the stabilisation force as “together with the newly trained and vetted police force to assist in protecting border areas, secure the security environment in the region by guaranteeing the procedure of demilitarising the Gaza Strip including the elimination and prevention of reconstructing the military terror and hostile facilities 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 required to use “all necessary measures” to achieve its goals.

Arab states including Qatar are also concerned that this mandate is overly broad, and if Hamas is to lay down arms, the group will only do so to local counterparts, probably in the local law enforcement, at a time that, from the militant perspective, signifies the end of occupation.

They also fear the draft mandate spills into granting the stabilisation force a governance function in the territory, a responsibility that was to be set aside for a local expert panel working in conjunction with a restructured Palestinian Authority.

Aid Aspects and Financial Questions

This “transitional governance administration” in Gaza would remain until “the local government has adequately finished its restructuring plan, the approval of which shall be acceptable to the BoP”, the draft says. It also “emphasizes the importance” of unhindered relief in Gaza, including through the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Red Crescent.

Nonetheless, it opens the door the exclusion of “any group found to have misused such assistance”. The wording permits the council excluding Unrwa, the body that the global judicial body has ruled is the legal provider of aid.

International Political Initiatives

French officials and Saudi Arabia 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 White House on the specified date, and a Saudi foreign ministry official has stated that a mention to a Palestinian state is a requirement.

The PA chair, Mahmoud Abbas, met the French president, Emmanuel Macron, in Paris on this week to review the PA role.

Not the UN nor the 15-member UNSC are assigned a oversight function over the stabilisation force, monitoring the implementation of the proposal, a aspect mostly ignored by the draft text. Nothing is specified about the funding of this stabilisation mission, which, according to the US officials, should be largely borne by regional nations, with the Kingdom assuming primary responsibility.

Israel's Demands and Local Situations

Israel is seeking written guarantees from the United States that it be permitted to follow the model of Lebanon and reserve the authority to return to Gaza if it considers demilitarization is not taking place at a level or pace it requires.

The Israeli proposal was put to the former US advisor, the ex-president's relative, and the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff. Kushner was in the Israeli capital on this week to review developments on the ceasefire and the envoy was scheduled to appear later the that day.

Only the bodies of four of the initial 251 captives are still not recovered.

Independently, Israel has been proposing that the territory could still be divided in two with reconstruction work beginning in the Israeli-controlled areas of the region. International officials insist that this is not part of the Trump plan.