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Plans for an international stabilisation force mandated by the United Nations to disarm the militant group in the Gaza Strip are facing increasing resistance after the United Arab Emirates stated it will not take part due to the absence of a clear legal framework.

Growing International Concerns

Israeli authorities have previously ruled out Turkey participation, and the Jordanian King Abdullah has declared that his country's troops will not join. Azerbaijan, previously mooted as a possible participant, did not attend a preparatory meeting in Istanbul and indicated it would not take part unless a full ceasefire was established.

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

Arab Doubts and Legal Issues

The Emirati announcement, made by senior envoy Dr Anwar Gargash at a forum in Abu Dhabi, reflects Arab doubts about the provisions of a US-drafted resolution previously distributed to diplomats at the UN in New York. The proposal assigns responsibility on a US-directed stabilisation force to be the primary means of ensuring security in the territory after Israeli forces have left the territory.

Regional governments would like expanded responsibilities to be assigned to a separate Palestinian law enforcement agency. International law would also prohibit foreign troops from deploying into occupied Palestine unless there was explicit local approval; without it, the force could be seen as coercive under international statutes, and arguably reinforcing an illegal presence.

Local Perspectives and Calls for Clarity

A Palestinian American co-author of the Palestinian armistice plan said: “It is critical that the mission be deployed not to stabilise 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 Palestine, and has a clear objective to end the presence within the framework of a independent state of Palestine.”

There is no reference to the occupied territories in the American proposal, or to a Palestinian state, or a two-state solution, a prospect that Israel rejects.

Ongoing Discussions and Possible Risks

In-depth negotiations on the stabilisation force authority, including its command and control, began formally on Thursday in New York, and appear to be lengthy – risking the emergence of a power gap in the strip that may empower militant factions.

The United States is suggesting that it lead the force although it will not have many personnel involved on the ground. It has previously in effect assumed command of the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza from a new logistical hub based in Israel.

Mission Objectives and Administrative Function

The draft American document defines the aim of the stabilisation force as “along with the newly trained and screened police force to help secure border areas, stabilise the safety situation in the region by ensuring the procedure of disarming the Gaza Strip including the destruction and prevention of reconstructing the military terror and hostile facilities as well as the permanent removal of weapons from militant factions”.

The mission, answerable to a “board of peace” chaired by Donald Trump, and not to the UN, would be mandated to use “all necessary measures” to achieve its goals.

Arab states including Qatar are also concerned that this authority is overly broad, and if Hamas is to lay down arms, the group will solely do so to local counterparts, likely in the civilian police force, at a moment that, from the militant perspective, signifies the conclusion of occupation.

They also fear the proposed authority extends to granting the mission a administrative role in the territory, a responsibility that was to be reserved for a Palestinian technocratic committee working in conjunction with a restructured local government.

Humanitarian Considerations and Financial Questions

This “interim authority” in Gaza would stay until “the Palestinian Authority has adequately completed its restructuring plan, the approval of which shall be approved to the board of peace”, the draft says. It also “emphasizes the significance” of unhindered relief in Gaza, including through the United Nations, the ICRC, and the Red Crescent.

However, it opens the door the removal of “any organisation found to have improperly used such assistance”. The wording permits the council barring the UN relief agency, the body that the international court of justice has ruled is the legal distributor of aid.

International Political Initiatives

French officials and Saudi Arabia are currently advocating for a reference to a Palestinian state to be included in the document. The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is scheduled in the US presidential residence on 18 November, and a Saudi foreign ministry official has stated that a reference to a Palestinian state is a requirement.

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

Neither the United Nations nor the 15 strong security council are given a oversight role over the mission, supervising the implementation of the proposal, a aspect mostly ignored by the draft text. No details is specified about the financing of this stabilisation mission, which, as per the US officials, should be largely borne by regional nations, with Saudi Arabia taking the lead.

Israel's Requests and Regional Situations

Israeli authorities is seeking written guarantees from the US that it be allowed to follow the model of Lebanon and retain the authority to re-enter the territory if it believes demilitarization is not taking place at a level or speed it requires.

The Israeli proposal was put to Jared Kushner, the ex-president's relative, and the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff. Kushner was in Jerusalem on Monday to review developments on the truce and Witkoff was due to arrive later the same day.

Just the remains of a small number of the initial 251 captives are still not recovered.

Independently, Israeli officials has been suggesting that the Gaza Strip could still be divided in two parts with reconstruction work beginning in the Israeli-controlled areas of the region. Western diplomats insist that this is no part of the former US administration's proposal.