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Proposals for an multinational security mission mandated by the UN to demilitarize the militant group in Gaza are facing growing opposition after the United Arab Emirates stated it would not take part due to the lack of a well-defined legal framework.

Increasing Global Reservations

Israel have already excluded Turkey participation, and Jordan's King Abdullah has stated that Jordanian troops will not join. The Azerbaijani government, previously mooted as a potential contributor, did not attend a preparatory session in Istanbul and indicated it would not contribute unless a full ceasefire was in place.

The UAE does not yet see a clear framework for the stabilisation force and under such circumstances will not participate, but backs all political initiatives towards resolution – and stay at the vanguard of relief efforts.

Arab Skepticism and Legal Concerns

The UAE's announcement, made by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in the UAE capital, highlights Arab reservations about the terms of a US-drafted resolution previously distributed to delegates at the UN in NYC. The proposal assigns responsibility on a American-led security mission to be the primary means of ensuring security in the territory after Israel have withdrawn from the territory.

Arab states would prefer expanded duties to be given to a separate local civilian police force. International law would also forbid external forces from deploying into occupied Palestinian territories unless there was clear Palestinian consent; without it, the mission could be seen as imposed under international statutes, and arguably stabilising an illegal Israeli occupation.

Palestinian Viewpoints and Appeals for Definition

A Palestinian American co-author of the Palestinian armistice plan said: “It is critical that the mission be deployed not to reinforce the unlawful presence, but to uphold international law and terminate it. The mission will work as long as it operates in the entire occupied territory, including the West Bank, at the invitation of the Palestinian authorities, and has a defined objective to end the presence within the framework of a independent Palestinian state.”

The draft contains no mention to the occupied territories in the American proposal, or to a sovereign Palestine, or a peaceful resolution, a prospect that Israeli leadership opposes.

Ongoing Discussions and Possible Dangers

Detailed negotiations on the mission mandate, including its command and control, began officially on last week in the UN headquarters, and appear to be lengthy – potentially creating the emergence of a vacuum in the strip 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 already effectively assumed command of the distribution of relief supplies into the territory from a recently established logistical hub based in Israel.

Mission Mandate and Governance Function

The proposed American document defines the purpose 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 ensuring the procedure of demilitarising the territory including the elimination and prevention of reconstructing the militant and hostile facilities as well as the permanent removal of arms from militant factions”.

The force, reporting to a “board of peace” led by Donald Trump, and not to the United Nations, would be required to use “all necessary measures” to fulfill its objectives.

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

They also worry the proposed authority extends to granting the stabilisation force a governance role in the territory, a task that was to be set aside for a local expert panel working in conjunction with a reformed Palestinian Authority.

Aid Considerations and Funding Questions

This “interim authority” in the strip would remain until “the local government has adequately completed its reform program, the approval of which shall be acceptable to the board of peace”, the proposal states. It also “emphasizes 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 improperly used such assistance”. The wording permits the council barring the UN relief agency, the organization that the international court of justice has said is the legal distributor of aid.

Global Diplomatic Efforts

France and Saudi representatives are currently pressing for a reference to a sovereign Palestine to be included in the resolution. The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is scheduled in the US presidential residence on 18 November, 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 this week to discuss the PA role.

Not the United Nations nor the 15-member UNSC are given a supervisory role over the stabilisation force, monitoring the execution of the proposal, a point largely ignored by the proposed document. No details is outlined about the funding of this security operation, which, as per the Americans, should be largely covered by Gulf states, with the Kingdom assuming primary responsibility.

Israel's Requests and Regional Situations

Israeli authorities is seeking written guarantees from the United States that it be allowed to follow the model of Lebanon and retain the authority to return to the territory if it considers disarmament is not taking place at a scale or speed it demands.

The request was put to the former US advisor, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, and the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff. Kushner was in the Israeli capital on this week to discuss progress on the ceasefire and Witkoff was scheduled to arrive later the same day.

Only the bodies of a small number of the original 251 captives remain unreturned.

Independently, Israel has been proposing that the territory could yet be split in two with rebuilding efforts beginning in the Israel occupied areas of the region. International officials maintain that this is not part of the former US administration's proposal.