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Plans for an multinational security mission mandated by the UN to demilitarize the militant group in the Gaza Strip are encountering growing opposition after the UAE stated it would not join due to the absence of a clear legal structure.

Growing International Concerns

Israel have already ruled out Turkish involvement, and the Jordanian King Abdullah has stated that his country's troops will not join. The Azerbaijani government, previously mooted as a potential participant, did not attend a preparatory session in Istanbul and indicated it would not contribute unless a full truce was in place.

The UAE does not yet see a clear structure for the stabilisation mission and in this situation declines involvement, but will support all diplomatic initiatives towards peace – and stay at the forefront of humanitarian aid.

Arab Doubts and Juridical Concerns

The Emirati decision, made by senior envoy Dr Anwar Gargash at a forum in Abu Dhabi, reflects Arab doubts about the provisions of a US-drafted resolution already circulated to diplomats at the UN in NYC. The proposal assigns responsibility on a American-led stabilisation force to be the principal means of ensuring security in the territory after Israeli forces have withdrawn from the territory.

Arab states would like expanded duties to be assigned to a separate local law enforcement agency. International law would also prohibit external forces from entering contested Palestinian territories unless there was clear local approval; otherwise, the force could be seen as coercive under UN law, and arguably stabilising an unlawful presence.

Palestinian Viewpoints and Appeals for Clarity

Jamal Nusseibeh of the ceasefire proposal said: “It is essential that the force be sent not to reinforce the illegal Israeli occupation, but to uphold global standards and end it. The force will succeed as long as it operates in the whole occupied territory, including the West Bank, at the invitation of the Palestinian authorities, and has a defined objective to end the occupation within the context of a independent Palestinian state.”

The draft contains no reference to the West Bank in the US draft resolution, or to a Palestinian state, or a peaceful resolution, a outcome that Israeli leadership rejects.

Ongoing Discussions and Possible Dangers

In-depth negotiations on the stabilisation force authority, including its leadership structure, started formally on Thursday in New York, and look likely to be lengthy – potentially creating the development of a power gap in the strip that may strengthen Hamas.

The US is proposing that it command the mission although it will not have a large number of personnel involved on the ground. It has already effectively taken control of the distribution of relief supplies into the territory from a recently established logistical hub based in the neighboring country.

Force Mandate and Administrative Role

The draft US resolution defines the purpose of the stabilisation force as “along with the recently prepared and vetted law enforcement to help secure border areas, secure the safety situation in the region by guaranteeing the process of demilitarising the territory including the destruction and prevention of rebuilding the militant and offensive infrastructure as well as the lasting removal of weapons from non-state armed groups”.

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

Regional powers including Qatari officials are also worried that this mandate is too expansive, and if Hamas is to lay down arms, the faction will only do so to fellow Palestinians, probably in the local law enforcement, at a moment that, from the militant viewpoint, signifies the conclusion of Israeli presence.

They also fear the proposed authority extends to giving the stabilisation force a governance role in Gaza, a task that was to be reserved for a local expert panel working in cooperation with a reformed Palestinian Authority.

Aid Aspects and Financial Issues

This “interim authority” in Gaza would remain until “the Palestinian Authority has satisfactorily completed its restructuring plan, the approval of which shall be approved to the BoP”, the draft says. It also “underscores the significance” of unhindered humanitarian aid in Gaza, including through the United Nations, the ICRC, and the Red Crescent.

However, it opens the door the removal of “any group determined to have misused such aid”. The wording leaves open the board of peace excluding Unrwa, the organization that the global judicial body has said is the lawful distributor of assistance.

Global Diplomatic Efforts

France and Saudi representatives are currently pressing for a mention to a Palestinian state to be included in the resolution. The Saudi leader, 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 independent Palestine is a prerequisite.

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

Not the United Nations nor the 15-member security council are given a supervisory function over the mission, supervising the execution of the resolution, a aspect largely ignored by the proposed document. No details is outlined about the funding of this security operation, which, according to the US officials, should be mostly covered by Gulf states, with Saudi Arabia assuming primary responsibility.

Israeli Requests and Local Developments

Israel is seeking formal assurances from the US that it be allowed to follow the pattern of the Lebanese situation and retain the authority to return to the territory if it believes demilitarization is not occurring at a scale or pace it demands.

The request was presented to Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s relative, and the American diplomat, Steve Witkoff. Kushner was in the Israeli capital on Monday to review progress on the truce and Witkoff was due to arrive subsequently the same day.

Only the remains of four of the original 251 Israeli hostages remain not recovered.

Independently, Israel has been proposing that the Gaza Strip could yet be split in two parts with reconstruction work starting in the Israeli-controlled areas of the region. Western diplomats insist that this is not part of the former US administration's proposal.