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Plans for an multinational security mission mandated by the United Nations to demilitarize Hamas in Gaza are encountering increasing resistance after the United Arab Emirates stated it will not join due to the lack of a clear legal framework.

Increasing International Concerns

Israeli authorities have previously ruled out Turkey involvement, and the Jordanian King Abdullah has declared that Jordanian troops will not participate. Azerbaijan, previously considered as a potential participant, did not attend a preparatory session in Istanbul and indicated it would not take part unless a full truce was in place.

The UAE lacks clarity on a clear framework for the stabilisation mission and under such circumstances declines involvement, but backs all diplomatic initiatives towards peace – and remain at the vanguard of relief efforts.

Regional Skepticism and Juridical Concerns

The Emirati announcement, made by senior envoy Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in the UAE capital, reflects Arab reservations about the terms of a American-proposed document previously distributed to diplomats at the UN in NYC. The proposal places an onus on a US-directed security mission to be the principal means of imposing order in the territory after Israel have left the region.

Arab states would like expanded responsibilities to be given to a distinct Palestinian civilian police force. Global jurisprudence would also forbid foreign troops from entering contested Palestinian territories unless there was clear Palestinian consent; otherwise, the mission could be viewed as imposed under UN law, and potentially reinforcing an illegal Israeli occupation.

Local Perspectives and Appeals for Definition

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 terminate it. The force will work as long as it enters the entire occupied territory, including the occupied territories, at the request of the Palestinian authorities, and has a defined goal to end the occupation within the context of a independent state of Palestine.”

There is no reference to the West Bank in the US draft resolution, or to a sovereign Palestine, or a peaceful resolution, a outcome that Israel opposes.

Continuing Negotiations and Potential Dangers

Detailed talks on the stabilisation force mandate, including its leadership structure, began officially on Thursday in New York, and appear to be protracted – potentially creating the development of a vacuum in the strip that may empower Hamas.

The US is suggesting that it lead the force although it will not have a large number of personnel involved on the terrain. It has previously effectively taken control of the delivery of relief supplies into Gaza from a new logistical hub based in the neighboring country.

Mission Objectives and Administrative Function

The draft American document outlines the purpose of the stabilisation force as “along with the recently prepared and vetted police force to help secure frontier zones, stabilise the security environment in Gaza by guaranteeing the procedure of disarming the Gaza Strip including the destruction and prevention of reconstructing the military terror and hostile facilities as well as the lasting decommissioning of weapons from non-state armed groups”.

The mission, reporting to a “board of peace” chaired by the former US president, and not to the United Nations, would be mandated to use “all necessary measures” to fulfill its objectives.

Arab states including Qatari officials 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 fellow Palestinians, likely in the local law enforcement, at a time that, from the Hamas viewpoint, marks the conclusion of occupation.

They also fear the draft mandate extends to granting the stabilisation force a administrative role in the territory, a task that was to be reserved for a local technocratic committee working in cooperation with a reformed Palestinian Authority.

Aid Aspects and Funding Issues

This “interim authority” in the strip would stay until “the Palestinian Authority has adequately finished its reform program, the satisfaction of which shall be approved to the board of peace”, the draft says. It also “emphasizes the importance” of unhindered humanitarian aid in Gaza, including through the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the humanitarian organizations.

However, it opens the door the removal of “any group found to have misused such aid”. The wording leaves open the council barring the UN relief agency, the body that the international court of justice has said is the lawful distributor of aid.

Global Political Initiatives

France and Saudi representatives are already advocating for a mention to a Palestinian state to be added in the document. The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is due in the US presidential residence on the specified date, and a Saudi foreign ministry official has stated that a mention to a independent Palestine is a prerequisite.

The PA chair, Mahmoud Abbas, met the French leader, Emmanuel Macron, in Paris on this week to review the PA role.

Not the UN nor the 15-member UNSC are given a oversight function over the stabilisation force, monitoring the execution of the resolution, a aspect largely ignored by the proposed document. Nothing is specified about the funding of this stabilisation mission, which, as per the US officials, should be mostly borne by regional nations, with the Kingdom taking the lead.

Israeli Demands and Local Developments

Israel is seeking written guarantees from the US that it be permitted to follow the pattern of the Lebanese situation and reserve the authority to return to the territory if it considers disarmament is not taking place at a level 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 Jerusalem on this week to discuss progress on the ceasefire and Witkoff was due to appear subsequently the same day.

Only the remains of four of the initial 251 captives are still unreturned.

Separately, Israel has been suggesting that the territory could still be split in two with rebuilding efforts beginning in the Israeli-controlled areas of the region. Western diplomats maintain that this is not part of the Trump plan.