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Proposals for an international stabilisation force mandated by the United Nations to demilitarize Hamas in the Gaza Strip are facing increasing resistance after the United Arab Emirates stated it would not join due to the absence of a well-defined legal framework.

Increasing Global Reservations

Israel have previously ruled out Turkish involvement, and Jordan's King Abdullah has stated that Jordanian forces will not participate. The Azerbaijani government, previously mooted as a possible contributor, did not attend a preparatory meeting in Istanbul and indicated it would not take part unless a complete truce was in place.

The UAE does not yet see a clear framework for the stabilisation mission and in this situation will not participate, but will support all political initiatives towards peace – and remain at the vanguard of humanitarian aid.

Arab Skepticism and Legal Concerns

The Emirati announcement, delivered by senior envoy Dr Anwar Gargash at a forum in Abu Dhabi, reflects Arab reservations about the terms of a American-proposed resolution previously distributed to delegates at the UN in NYC. The draft assigns responsibility on a American-led security mission to be the principal means of ensuring security in Gaza after Israel have withdrawn from the region.

Arab states would prefer expanded duties 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; otherwise, the force could be viewed as imposed under international statutes, and potentially stabilising an illegal Israeli occupation.

Local Perspectives and Calls for Definition

A Palestinian American co-author of the Palestinian armistice plan said: “It is essential that the force be sent not to reinforce the unlawful presence, but to uphold international law and end it. The mission will succeed as long as it operates in the whole disputed land, including the occupied territories, at the invitation of the Palestinian authorities, and has a defined objective to end the presence within the framework of a independent state of Palestine.”

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

Ongoing Discussions and Potential Dangers

Detailed talks on the mission authority, including its command and control, started officially on last week in New York, and look likely to be protracted – potentially creating the development of a power gap in the strip that may empower Hamas.

The United States is proposing that it lead the force although it will not have a large number of troops involved on the terrain. It has previously effectively assumed command of the distribution of humanitarian aid into the territory from a new logistical hub based in Israel.

Force Objectives and Governance Function

The proposed US resolution defines the purpose of the stabilisation force as “along with the recently prepared and vetted police force to assist in protecting border areas, secure the safety situation in the region by guaranteeing the procedure of demilitarising the territory including the elimination and blocking of rebuilding the militant and offensive infrastructure as well as the lasting decommissioning of arms from non-state armed groups”.

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

Regional powers including Qatar are also concerned that this mandate is overly broad, and if the group is to lay down arms, the faction will only do so to fellow Palestinians, likely in the civilian police force, at a moment that, from the militant perspective, signifies the conclusion of occupation.

They also fear the draft mandate spills into giving the stabilisation force a administrative function in the territory, a task that was to be reserved for a Palestinian expert panel working in conjunction with a restructured Palestinian Authority.

Aid Aspects and Financial Issues

This “transitional governance administration” in Gaza would stay until “the Palestinian Authority has adequately completed its restructuring plan, the approval of which shall be approved to the BoP”, the draft says. It also “underscores the significance” of unhindered relief 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 organisation determined to have misused such aid”. The wording permits the board of peace excluding the UN relief agency, the body that the international court of justice has ruled is the lawful provider of aid.

International Political Initiatives

French officials and Saudi representatives are currently pressing for a mention to a Palestinian state to be included in the document. The Saudi leader, Mohammed bin Salman, is scheduled in the White House on 18 November, and Manal Radwan has said that a reference to a Palestinian state is a prerequisite.

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

Neither the United Nations nor the 15 strong security council are given a oversight function over the stabilisation force, monitoring the implementation 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 largely covered by regional nations, with Saudi Arabia taking the lead.

Israeli Demands and Regional Developments

Israeli authorities 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 Gaza if it considers demilitarization is not taking place at a scale or speed it requires.

The Israeli proposal was presented to the former US advisor, the ex-president's relative, and the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff. The advisor was in the Israeli capital on this week to discuss developments on the ceasefire and the envoy was due to appear subsequently the that day.

Just the remains of four of the original hundreds of Israeli hostages remain unreturned.

Separately, Israeli officials has been suggesting that the territory could yet be split in two with reconstruction work beginning in the Israeli-controlled areas of the strip. International officials insist that this is no part of the Trump plan.