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Plans for an international stabilisation force authorized by the UN to demilitarize the militant group in Gaza are facing increasing resistance after the UAE announced it will not take part due to the lack of a clear legal structure.

Growing International Reservations

Israel have previously ruled out Turkey participation, and Jordan's King Abdullah has stated that his country's troops will not participate. Azerbaijan, previously considered as a possible participant, did not attend a preparatory meeting in Istanbul and indicated it would not contribute unless a complete ceasefire was in place.

Emirati officials lacks clarity on a defined structure for the stabilisation force and under such circumstances declines involvement, but will support all political initiatives towards resolution – and stay at the forefront of humanitarian aid.

Arab Skepticism and Legal Issues

The Emirati announcement, delivered by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in the UAE capital, reflects regional doubts about the terms of a American-proposed document previously distributed to diplomats at the UN in NYC. The draft assigns responsibility on a American-led stabilisation force to be the primary means of ensuring order in the territory after Israel have left the region.

Arab states would like expanded responsibilities to be given to a distinct Palestinian law enforcement agency. International law would also forbid external forces from deploying into 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.

Palestinian Perspectives 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 uphold global standards and terminate it. The force will succeed as long as it operates in the entire disputed land, including the West Bank, at the request of the Palestinian authorities, and has a defined goal to end the occupation within the framework of a independent state of Palestine.”

The draft contains no mention to the occupied territories in the American proposal, or to a sovereign Palestine, or a two-state solution, a prospect that Israel rejects.

Continuing Discussions and Possible Risks

In-depth negotiations on the stabilisation force authority, including its command and control, began formally on last week in the UN headquarters, and look likely to be lengthy – potentially creating the development of a vacuum in Gaza that may empower Hamas.

The US is proposing that it command the force although it will not have a large number of troops involved on the ground. It has previously effectively taken control of the distribution of relief supplies into Gaza from a new logistical hub based in Israel.

Mission Objectives and Governance Function

The draft American document defines the purpose of the stabilisation force as “along with the recently prepared and screened law enforcement to assist in protecting border areas, stabilise the safety situation in Gaza by guaranteeing the procedure of disarming the territory including the elimination and prevention of reconstructing the military terror and hostile facilities as well as the permanent decommissioning of weapons from non-state armed groups”.

The force, reporting to a “peace council” chaired by Donald Trump, and not to the UN, would be mandated to use “any required actions” to fulfill its objectives.

Regional powers including Qatar are also concerned that this mandate is too expansive, and if Hamas is to disarm, the group will only do so to fellow Palestinians, probably in the civilian police force, at a time that, from the Hamas viewpoint, marks the conclusion of Israeli presence.

They also fear the draft mandate spills into granting the mission a governance function in the territory, a task that was to be set aside for a Palestinian expert panel working in cooperation with a restructured Palestinian Authority.

Humanitarian Aspects and Funding Questions

This “interim authority” in Gaza would remain until “the Palestinian Authority has satisfactorily finished its restructuring plan, the satisfaction of which shall be acceptable to the BoP”, the draft states. It also “emphasizes the significance” of unhindered relief in the territory, including through the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the humanitarian organizations.

Nonetheless, it allows for the removal of “any group determined to have improperly used such aid”. The wording leaves open the council barring the UN relief agency, the organization that the international court of justice has ruled is the legal provider of aid.

International Diplomatic Initiatives

France and Saudi Arabia are currently pressing for a mention to a sovereign Palestine to be included in the document. The Saudi leader, Mohammed bin Salman, is due in the US presidential residence on 18 November, and Manal Radwan has said that a mention to a independent Palestine is a prerequisite.

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

Neither the United Nations nor the 15 strong UNSC are assigned a supervisory function over the stabilisation force, supervising the execution of the resolution, a point largely ignored by the draft text. Nothing is outlined about the funding of this stabilisation mission, which, as per the US officials, should be largely borne by regional nations, with the Kingdom taking the lead.

Israeli Demands and Local Developments

Israel is seeking formal assurances from the US that it be permitted to emulate the pattern of Lebanon and reserve the authority to re-enter Gaza if it believes disarmament is not taking place at a level or speed it demands.

The Israeli proposal was put to the former US advisor, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, and the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff. Kushner was in Jerusalem on this week to review progress on the truce and the envoy was scheduled to appear later the same day.

Only the bodies of a small number of the initial 251 Israeli hostages remain not recovered.

Independently, Israel has been proposing that the territory could still be split in two with rebuilding efforts beginning in the Israeli-controlled parts of the strip. Western diplomats insist that this is no part of the former US administration's proposal.