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Proposals for an international stabilisation force mandated by the United Nations to demilitarize the militant group in Gaza are encountering growing opposition after the United Arab Emirates stated it will not join due to the absence of a well-defined legal framework.

Increasing Global Reservations

Israel have already excluded Turkish participation, and Jordan's King Abdullah has declared that Jordanian forces will not participate. The Azerbaijani government, once considered as a potential contributor, was absent from a preparatory session in Istanbul and indicated it would not take part unless a complete ceasefire was established.

Emirati officials lacks clarity on a clear framework for the stability mission and under such circumstances declines involvement, but will support all political initiatives towards resolution – and stay at the vanguard of humanitarian aid.

Regional Skepticism and Juridical Concerns

The UAE's decision, made by senior envoy Dr Anwar Gargash at a forum in Abu Dhabi, highlights Arab doubts about the provisions of a US-drafted document already circulated to diplomats at the UN in New York. The proposal assigns responsibility on a US-directed security mission to be the principal means of imposing order in Gaza after Israel have left the territory.

Arab states would prefer expanded responsibilities to be given to a separate Palestinian civilian police force. International law would also forbid foreign troops from deploying into contested Palestine unless there was explicit local approval; otherwise, the force could be viewed as imposed under international statutes, and arguably reinforcing an illegal presence.

Local Perspectives and Appeals for Definition

A Palestinian American co-author of the ceasefire proposal said: “It is essential that the force be sent not to reinforce the illegal Israeli occupation, but to uphold international law and end it. The force will succeed as long as it operates in the entire occupied territory, including the occupied territories, at the invitation of Palestine, and has a defined objective to end the presence within the context of a independent state of Palestine.”

There is no reference to the occupied territories in the American proposal, or to a Palestinian state, or a peaceful resolution, a outcome that Israel rejects.

Ongoing Discussions and Possible Risks

Detailed negotiations on the stabilisation force mandate, including its leadership structure, started formally on Thursday in the UN headquarters, and look likely to be lengthy – risking the development of a vacuum 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 personnel involved on the terrain. It has previously in effect taken control of the distribution of humanitarian aid into the territory from a new logistical hub based in Israel.

Mission Mandate and Administrative Function

The draft US resolution defines the purpose of the stabilisation force as “together with the newly trained and vetted law enforcement to assist in protecting frontier zones, secure the security environment in the region by ensuring the procedure of disarming the Gaza Strip including the destruction and blocking of reconstructing the military terror and hostile facilities as well as the permanent decommissioning of arms from non-state armed groups”.

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

Arab states including Qatari officials are also concerned that this authority is overly broad, and if Hamas is to lay down arms, the group will only do so to fellow Palestinians, likely in the local law enforcement, at a time that, from the Hamas viewpoint, signifies the conclusion of occupation.

They also fear the proposed authority extends to giving the mission a administrative 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.

Aid Considerations and Financial Questions

This “transitional governance administration” in the strip would remain until “the Palestinian Authority has satisfactorily finished its restructuring plan, the approval of which shall be approved to the board of peace”, the draft states. It also “emphasizes the significance” of full humanitarian aid in the territory, including through the United Nations, the ICRC, and the humanitarian organizations.

However, it allows for the exclusion of “any organisation determined to have misused such assistance”. The wording permits the board of peace excluding Unrwa, the body that the international court of justice has ruled is the lawful provider of aid.

Global Diplomatic Efforts

French officials and Saudi Arabia are already pressing for a mention to a Palestinian state to be included in the resolution. The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is due in the White House on the specified date, and Manal Radwan has said that a reference to a independent Palestine 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 role over the stabilisation force, supervising the implementation of the resolution, a point largely overlooked by the draft text. Nothing is outlined about the funding of this stabilisation mission, which, according to the Americans, should be largely covered by Gulf states, with Saudi Arabia assuming primary responsibility.

Israel's Demands and Local Developments

Israel is seeking formal assurances from the US that it be permitted to follow the pattern of the Lebanese situation and reserve the right to re-enter Gaza if it considers disarmament is not taking place at a scale or speed it demands.

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

Only the remains of four of the original hundreds of captives remain unreturned.

Independently, Israel has been proposing that the Gaza Strip could still be split in two with reconstruction work beginning in the Israel occupied areas of the region. International officials maintain that this is not part of the former US administration's proposal.