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Plans for an multinational stabilisation force mandated by the United Nations to demilitarize Hamas in Gaza are facing increasing opposition after the United Arab Emirates stated it would not join due to the lack of a clear legal framework.

Growing Global Concerns

Israel have already ruled out Turkey participation, and Jordan's King Abdullah has stated that Jordanian forces will not join. The Azerbaijani government, once mooted as a potential contributor, was absent from a preparatory session in Istanbul and indicated it would not contribute unless a full ceasefire was in place.

Emirati officials does not yet see a defined framework for the stability mission and in this situation will not participate, but backs all political efforts towards peace – and remain at the forefront of relief efforts.

Regional Doubts and Legal Issues

The UAE's announcement, made by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in the UAE capital, highlights Arab doubts about the provisions of a American-proposed document previously distributed to delegates at the UN in New York. The draft assigns responsibility on a American-led security mission to be the principal means of imposing security in Gaza after Israeli forces 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 entering occupied Palestine unless there was explicit local approval; without it, the mission could be seen as imposed under international statutes, and potentially reinforcing an unlawful presence.

Palestinian Perspectives and Appeals for Definition

A Palestinian American co-author of the Palestinian armistice plan commented: “It is essential that the mission be sent not to reinforce the illegal presence, but to uphold global standards and end it. The force will succeed as long as it operates in the entire disputed land, including the West Bank, at the invitation of the Palestinian authorities, and has a clear goal to conclude the presence within the framework of a sovereign state of Palestine.”

The draft contains no reference to the West Bank in the US draft resolution, or to a sovereign Palestine, or a peaceful resolution, a outcome that Israel rejects.

Ongoing Discussions and Potential Risks

In-depth negotiations on the mission mandate, including its leadership structure, started formally on last week in the UN headquarters, and look likely to be protracted – risking the development of a vacuum in Gaza that may empower militant factions.

The US is suggesting that it command the force although it will not have many personnel deployed on the ground. It has previously effectively taken control of the delivery of relief supplies into Gaza from a new civil military coordination centre based in Israel.

Force Objectives and Governance Function

The proposed American document defines the aim of the stabilisation force as “along with the recently prepared and screened law enforcement to assist in protecting frontier zones, secure the security environment in Gaza by guaranteeing the procedure of demilitarising the Gaza Strip including the elimination and blocking of reconstructing the militant and hostile facilities as well as the permanent removal of arms from militant factions”.

The mission, answerable to a “board of peace” led by Donald Trump, and not to the United Nations, would be required to use “any required actions” to fulfill its objectives.

Arab states including Qatar are also concerned that this mandate is too expansive, and if Hamas is to disarm, the faction will solely do so to fellow Palestinians, likely in the local law enforcement, at a time that, from the Hamas perspective, signifies the conclusion of Israeli presence.

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

Humanitarian Aspects and Funding Issues

This “transitional governance administration” in Gaza would stay until “the Palestinian Authority has adequately finished its restructuring plan, the satisfaction of which shall be approved to the board of peace”, the draft says. It also “emphasizes the significance” of full relief in the territory, including through the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Red Crescent.

However, it allows for the removal of “any group determined to have misused such assistance”. The phrase leaves open the board of peace excluding the UN relief agency, the body that the international court of justice has said is the legal provider of aid.

International Diplomatic Efforts

France and Saudi representatives are already advocating for a mention to a Palestinian state to be included in the resolution. The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is scheduled in the White House on the specified date, and a Saudi foreign ministry official has said that a reference to a Palestinian state is a prerequisite.

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

Neither the UN nor the 15-member UNSC are given a supervisory role over the mission, monitoring the implementation of the resolution, a aspect mostly overlooked by the draft text. Nothing is outlined about the financing of this stabilisation mission, which, as per the US officials, should be largely covered by Gulf states, with Saudi Arabia assuming primary responsibility.

Israeli Requests and Local Developments

Israel is requesting formal assurances from the US that it be allowed to follow the pattern of the Lebanese situation and retain the right to return to the territory if it believes demilitarization is not taking place at a scale or pace it requires.

The Israeli proposal was presented to the former US advisor, the ex-president's son-in-law, and the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff. Kushner was in the Israeli capital on Monday to discuss developments on the truce and the envoy was due to arrive later the that day.

Just the bodies of four of the original 251 Israeli hostages remain not recovered.

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