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Proposals for an international security mission mandated by the UN to demilitarize the militant group in the Gaza Strip are facing growing resistance after the United Arab Emirates announced it will not take part due to the lack of a clear legal framework.

Increasing International Concerns

Israeli authorities have already ruled out Turkish participation, and Jordan's King Abdullah has stated that his country's troops will not join. The Azerbaijani government, once considered as a possible participant, did not attend a planning meeting in Turkey and indicated it would not take part 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 efforts towards peace – and remain at the forefront of humanitarian aid.

Regional Skepticism and Juridical Issues

The Emirati announcement, made by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in Abu Dhabi, reflects regional reservations about the provisions of a US-drafted document previously circulated to delegates at the UN in New York. The proposal assigns responsibility on a American-led security mission to be the primary means of ensuring security in Gaza after Israeli forces have left the territory.

Arab states would prefer expanded responsibilities to be given to a separate local law enforcement agency. International law would also forbid external forces from deploying into occupied Palestinian territories unless there was explicit Palestinian consent; otherwise, the force could be viewed as imposed under UN law, and potentially stabilising an illegal Israeli occupation.

Local Perspectives and Appeals for Definition

A Palestinian American co-author of the ceasefire proposal commented: “It is essential that the force be sent not to reinforce the illegal presence, but to uphold global standards and terminate it. The force will work as long as it operates in the whole disputed land, including the occupied territories, at the invitation of the Palestinian authorities, and has a clear objective to conclude the presence within the context of a sovereign Palestinian state.”

There is no mention to the West Bank in the American proposal, or to a Palestinian state, or a two-state solution, a outcome that Israeli leadership opposes.

Continuing Discussions and Possible Dangers

Detailed negotiations on the mission mandate, including its command and control, started officially on last week in New York, and appear to be protracted – potentially creating the development of a power gap in the strip that may empower militant factions.

The United States 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 assumed command of the distribution of humanitarian aid into Gaza from a recently established civil military coordination centre based in the neighboring country.

Force Mandate and Governance Function

The draft US resolution defines the aim of the stabilisation force as “together with the recently prepared and vetted police force to assist in protecting border areas, stabilise the safety situation in the region by guaranteeing the procedure of disarming the Gaza Strip including the destruction and prevention of rebuilding the militant and hostile facilities as well as the permanent removal of arms from militant factions”.

The mission, answerable to a “peace council” led by the former US president, and not to the United Nations, would be required to use “all necessary measures” to fulfill its objectives.

Regional powers including Qatari officials are also worried that this mandate is too expansive, and if the group is to disarm, the group will only do so to fellow Palestinians, likely in the local law enforcement, at a moment that, from the Hamas viewpoint, marks the conclusion of occupation.

They also fear the proposed authority spills into granting the mission a administrative function in Gaza, a task that was to be reserved for a Palestinian technocratic committee working in conjunction with a restructured local government.

Aid Considerations and Funding Questions

This “interim authority” in Gaza would stay until “the local government has adequately finished its restructuring plan, the approval of which shall be approved to the BoP”, the proposal states. It also “underscores the importance” of full relief in the territory, including through the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the humanitarian organizations.

Nonetheless, it allows for the removal of “any organisation determined to have improperly used such aid”. The wording permits the council excluding the UN relief agency, the organization that the global judicial body has ruled is the legal distributor of aid.

Global Political Initiatives

France and Saudi representatives are currently pressing for a mention to a Palestinian state to be added in the document. The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is scheduled in the US presidential residence on 18 November, and a Saudi foreign ministry official has stated that a mention to a Palestinian state is a requirement.

The PA chair, Mahmoud Abbas, held talks with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, in Paris on this week to discuss the authority's function.

Neither the UN nor the 15 strong security council are assigned a oversight role over the stabilisation force, monitoring the execution of the proposal, a point largely overlooked by the proposed document. Nothing is specified about the funding of this stabilisation mission, which, as per the US officials, should be mostly covered by Gulf states, with the Kingdom taking the lead.

Israel's Demands and Regional Situations

Israeli authorities is requesting formal assurances from the US that it be allowed to emulate the pattern of Lebanon and retain the authority to return to the territory if it believes disarmament is not occurring at a scale or pace it requires.

The Israeli proposal was presented to the former US advisor, Donald Trump’s relative, and the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff. The advisor was in Jerusalem on Monday to review developments on the truce and the envoy was due to arrive subsequently the same day.

Just the remains of four of the initial 251 Israeli hostages are still unreturned.

Independently, Israel has been proposing that the territory could still be divided in two parts with reconstruction work starting in the Israeli-controlled parts of the region. Western diplomats insist that this is no part of the Trump plan.