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Proposals for an international stabilisation force mandated by the United Nations to disarm the militant group in the Gaza Strip are encountering growing resistance after the United Arab Emirates announced it would not take part due to the absence of a well-defined legal framework.

Growing International Reservations

Israel have previously ruled out Turkish involvement, and the Jordanian King Abdullah has stated that his country's troops will not participate. Azerbaijan, once mooted as a potential contributor, did not attend a preparatory session in Istanbul and indicated it would not contribute unless a complete ceasefire was established.

Emirati officials does not yet see a clear structure for the stability mission and in this situation will not participate, but will support all political initiatives towards peace – and remain at the vanguard of relief efforts.

Regional Skepticism and Juridical Concerns

The UAE's decision, made by senior envoy Dr Anwar Gargash at a forum in Abu Dhabi, reflects regional reservations about the terms of a US-drafted resolution already circulated to delegates at the UN in NYC. The draft places an onus on a American-led stabilisation force to be the principal means of imposing order in Gaza after Israel have withdrawn from the territory.

Regional governments would like greater duties to be assigned to a separate local civilian police force. International law would also forbid external forces from deploying into occupied Palestine unless there was explicit local approval; without it, the mission could be seen as imposed under UN law, and arguably stabilising an illegal presence.

Local Perspectives and Appeals for Definition

A Palestinian American co-author of the Palestinian armistice plan commented: “It is essential that the force be sent not to stabilise the illegal presence, but to enforce global standards and terminate it. The force will work as long as it operates in the entire disputed land, including the West Bank, at the invitation of the Palestinian authorities, and has a defined goal to end the presence within the context of a independent state of Palestine.”

The draft contains no mention to the West Bank in the US draft resolution, or to a Palestinian state, or a peaceful resolution, a prospect that Israeli leadership opposes.

Continuing Negotiations and Possible Dangers

In-depth talks on the stabilisation force mandate, including its leadership structure, began formally on Thursday in New York, and appear to be lengthy – potentially creating the emergence of a power gap in Gaza that may strengthen Hamas.

The United States is suggesting that it command the force although it will not have many troops involved on the terrain. It has previously effectively taken control of the delivery of relief supplies into the territory from a new logistical hub based in the neighboring country.

Force Objectives and Administrative Role

The proposed US resolution outlines the aim of the stabilisation force as “together with the newly trained and screened law enforcement to help secure frontier zones, secure the safety situation in the region by ensuring the procedure of demilitarising the territory including the elimination and blocking of reconstructing the military terror and offensive infrastructure as well as the lasting decommissioning of arms from non-state armed groups”.

The mission, answerable to a “peace council” chaired by Donald Trump, and not to the United Nations, would be required to use “any required actions” to achieve its objectives.

Arab states including Qatar are also concerned that this mandate is too expansive, and if the group is to lay down arms, the faction will solely do so to local counterparts, likely in the civilian police force, at a time that, from the militant viewpoint, signifies the conclusion of Israeli presence.

They also fear the proposed authority extends to granting the mission a governance function in Gaza, a responsibility that was to be set aside for a Palestinian technocratic committee working in cooperation with a restructured Palestinian Authority.

Humanitarian Considerations and Financial Questions

This “interim authority” in the strip would remain until “the Palestinian Authority has satisfactorily completed its reform program, the approval of which shall be acceptable to the board of peace”, the proposal says. It also “underscores the significance” of full relief in the territory, including through the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the humanitarian organizations.

However, it opens the door the exclusion of “any organisation found to have improperly used such assistance”. The phrase permits the council barring Unrwa, the organization that the global judicial body has said is the lawful provider of assistance.

International Political Efforts

France and Saudi Arabia are already advocating for a mention to a sovereign Palestine to be added in the resolution. The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is scheduled in the US presidential residence on the specified date, and Manal Radwan has stated that a reference to a independent Palestine is a requirement.

The Palestinian Authority leader, Mahmoud Abbas, held talks with the French leader, Emmanuel Macron, in Paris on this week to discuss the PA role.

Neither the UN nor the 15-member security council are given a oversight role over the stabilisation force, supervising the execution of the resolution, a aspect largely ignored by the proposed document. Nothing is outlined about the funding of this security operation, which, as per the US officials, should be mostly covered by Gulf states, with the Kingdom assuming primary responsibility.

Israel's Demands and Regional Developments

Israel is requesting formal assurances from the US that it be allowed to emulate the pattern of the Lebanese situation and reserve the right to re-enter the territory if it believes disarmament is not taking place at a level or speed it demands.

The Israeli proposal was presented to the former US advisor, the ex-president's relative, and the American diplomat, Steve Witkoff. Kushner was in the Israeli capital on this week to review progress on the ceasefire and Witkoff was scheduled to appear later the same day.

Just the bodies of four of the initial hundreds of captives remain unreturned.

Separately, Israeli officials has been proposing that the territory could still be split in two with rebuilding efforts beginning in the Israel occupied areas of the strip. International officials maintain that this is not part of the Trump plan.