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Proposals for an multinational stabilisation force mandated by the United Nations to disarm Hamas in the Gaza Strip are encountering growing opposition after the United Arab Emirates stated it would not join due to the lack of a clear legal framework.

Growing Global Reservations

Israel have already ruled out Turkish participation, and Jordan's King Abdullah has stated that his country's troops will not join. Azerbaijan, previously considered as a possible participant, did not attend a planning session in Istanbul and said it would not contribute unless a complete truce was in place.

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

Regional Skepticism and Juridical Concerns

The UAE's announcement, delivered by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in Abu Dhabi, reflects Arab reservations about the provisions of a American-proposed document previously distributed to diplomats at the UN in New York. The draft places an onus on a American-led stabilisation force to be the primary means of imposing order in Gaza after Israel have withdrawn from the region.

Arab states would prefer expanded duties to be given to a distinct local civilian police force. Global jurisprudence would also forbid external forces from deploying into contested Palestinian territories unless there was explicit local approval; otherwise, the force could be seen as imposed under international statutes, and arguably reinforcing an illegal Israeli occupation.

Local Perspectives and Appeals for Definition

A Palestinian American co-author of the Palestinian armistice plan commented: “It is essential that the force be sent not to reinforce the illegal presence, but to uphold international law and end it. The mission will work as long as it operates in the entire occupied territory, including the occupied territories, at the invitation of the Palestinian authorities, and has a clear objective to end the presence within the framework of a sovereign 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 prospect that Israeli leadership rejects.

Continuing Discussions and Possible Dangers

In-depth talks on the mission authority, including its command and control, began officially on Thursday in the UN headquarters, and appear to be lengthy – risking the emergence of a vacuum in Gaza that may empower Hamas.

The United States is suggesting that it lead the force although it will not have many personnel involved on the terrain. It has already in effect taken control of the distribution of relief supplies into Gaza from a new logistical hub based in Israel.

Force Mandate and Administrative Function

The proposed American document outlines the purpose of the security mission as “along with the newly trained and screened police force to help secure frontier zones, secure the safety situation in the region by ensuring the process of disarming the territory including the destruction and prevention of reconstructing the military terror and hostile facilities as well as the permanent removal of weapons from non-state armed groups”.

The force, answerable to a “peace council” led by Donald Trump, and not to the United Nations, would be mandated to use “all necessary measures” to achieve its objectives.

Regional powers including Qatar are also concerned that this authority is overly broad, and if Hamas is to disarm, the faction will only do so to fellow Palestinians, probably in the local law enforcement, at a moment that, from the Hamas viewpoint, signifies the end of occupation.

They also fear the draft mandate spills into giving the mission a administrative function in the territory, a task that was to be set aside for a Palestinian technocratic committee working in cooperation with a restructured local government.

Aid Aspects and Funding Issues

This “interim authority” in the strip would stay until “the Palestinian Authority has adequately completed its restructuring plan, the satisfaction of which shall be approved to the board of peace”, the draft says. It also “underscores the importance” of full humanitarian aid in Gaza, including through the UN, the ICRC, and the Red Crescent.

However, it allows for the exclusion of “any organisation found to have improperly used such aid”. The phrase leaves open the council barring Unrwa, the body that the international court of justice has said is the lawful distributor of aid.

International Political Initiatives

French officials and Saudi Arabia are already advocating for a reference to a sovereign Palestine to be added in the resolution. The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is due in the White House on the specified date, and a Saudi foreign ministry official has stated that a mention to a Palestinian state is a requirement.

The PA chair, Mahmoud Abbas, held talks with the French leader, Emmanuel Macron, in the French capital on Monday to discuss the PA role.

Neither the UN nor the 15-member security council are assigned a supervisory function over the mission, monitoring the implementation of the resolution, a aspect mostly ignored by the proposed document. No details is specified about the funding of this security operation, which, according to the Americans, should be largely borne by Gulf states, with Saudi Arabia taking the lead.

Israel's Requests and Regional Situations

Israel is seeking written guarantees from the United States that it be permitted to emulate the model of Lebanon and reserve the right to re-enter Gaza if it believes demilitarization is not occurring at a level or pace it demands.

The Israeli proposal was presented to Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, and the American diplomat, Steve Witkoff. The advisor was in the Israeli capital on Monday to discuss progress on the truce and the envoy was due to appear later the that day.

Only the remains of four of the original hundreds of captives are still unreturned.

Separately, Israeli officials has been suggesting that the territory could yet be split in two with reconstruction work starting in the Israel occupied areas of the region. Western diplomats maintain that this is no part of the Trump plan.