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Plans for an international stabilisation force authorized by the United Nations to disarm the militant group in the Gaza Strip are facing increasing opposition after the UAE stated it will not take part due to the absence of a well-defined legal structure.

Increasing International Concerns

Israel have already excluded Turkey participation, and Jordan's King Abdullah has stated that his country's forces will not join. Azerbaijan, previously mooted as a potential participant, was absent from a preparatory meeting in Istanbul and indicated it would not take part unless a full ceasefire was in place.

The UAE lacks clarity on a defined framework for the stabilisation force and under such circumstances declines involvement, but backs all diplomatic initiatives towards resolution – and remain at the forefront of relief efforts.

Arab Skepticism and Legal Concerns

The UAE's announcement, made by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in Abu Dhabi, reflects regional doubts about the provisions of a American-proposed document previously distributed to diplomats at the UN in NYC. The draft places an onus on a American-led security mission to be the principal means of ensuring security in the territory after Israeli forces have withdrawn from the territory.

Regional governments would prefer expanded responsibilities to be given to a distinct local civilian police force. International law would also forbid foreign troops from entering contested Palestine unless there was clear Palestinian consent; otherwise, the force could be seen as coercive under international statutes, and potentially stabilising an illegal presence.

Local Viewpoints and Calls for Clarity

A Palestinian American co-author of the ceasefire proposal said: “It is critical that the force be sent not to stabilise the unlawful presence, but to uphold global standards and end it. The mission will work as long as it operates in the entire disputed land, including the occupied territories, at the request of Palestine, and has a defined objective to conclude the occupation within the context of a independent Palestinian state.”

The draft contains no mention to the occupied territories in the American proposal, or to a Palestinian state, or a peaceful resolution, a outcome that Israel opposes.

Ongoing Negotiations and Potential Dangers

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

The US is suggesting that it lead the force although it will not have many personnel involved on the terrain. It has already in effect assumed command of the delivery of relief supplies into Gaza from a new logistical hub based in Israel.

Mission Objectives and Governance Role

The draft American document defines the aim of the security mission as “together with the recently prepared and vetted police force to help secure frontier zones, stabilise the security environment in the region by ensuring the process of disarming the territory including the destruction and blocking of rebuilding the military terror and hostile facilities as well as the lasting decommissioning of weapons from non-state armed groups”.

The force, reporting to a “board of peace” led by the former US president, and not to the United Nations, would be mandated to use “any required actions” to achieve its objectives.

Regional powers including Qatari officials are also worried that this mandate is overly broad, and if the group is to disarm, the faction will solely do so to fellow Palestinians, likely in the civilian police force, at a moment that, from the Hamas perspective, marks the conclusion of Israeli presence.

They also worry the proposed authority spills into granting the mission a governance function in the territory, a responsibility that was to be set aside for a Palestinian technocratic committee working in conjunction with a restructured local government.

Aid Aspects and Funding Questions

This “interim authority” in Gaza would remain until “the Palestinian Authority has satisfactorily finished its reform program, the approval of which shall be acceptable to the BoP”, the proposal states. It also “underscores the significance” of unhindered humanitarian aid in Gaza, including through the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the humanitarian organizations.

However, it opens the door the removal of “any group determined to have improperly used such assistance”. The phrase leaves open the board of peace excluding the UN relief agency, the body that the international court of justice has ruled is the lawful provider of assistance.

Global Political Initiatives

France and Saudi representatives are currently pressing for a reference to a Palestinian state to be added in the resolution. The Saudi leader, Mohammed bin Salman, is scheduled in the US presidential residence on the specified date, and Manal Radwan 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 the French capital on this week to review the authority's function.

Not the UN nor the 15 strong security council are assigned a supervisory function over the mission, supervising the implementation of the proposal, a aspect largely ignored by the draft text. No details is specified about the financing of this security operation, which, according to the US officials, should be largely covered by Gulf states, with the Kingdom assuming primary responsibility.

Israel's Demands and Local Developments

Israel is requesting written guarantees from the US that it be permitted to emulate the model 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, the ex-president's son-in-law, and the American diplomat, Steve Witkoff. Kushner was in Jerusalem on Monday to discuss progress on the truce and Witkoff was due to appear later the same day.

Only the bodies of four of the original hundreds of Israeli hostages are still unreturned.

Independently, Israel has been suggesting that the Gaza Strip could still be split in two parts with rebuilding efforts starting in the Israeli-controlled areas of the region. International officials maintain that this is not part of the Trump plan.