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Plans for an international security mission authorized by the UN to demilitarize the militant group in the Gaza Strip are encountering increasing opposition after the UAE stated it would not take part due to the lack of a clear legal structure.

Increasing Global Reservations

Israel have previously ruled out Turkey involvement, and the Jordanian King Abdullah has stated that his country's troops will not join. Azerbaijan, previously mooted as a potential participant, did not attend a planning session in Turkey and indicated it would not contribute unless a full ceasefire was in place.

The UAE does not yet see a clear framework for the stability mission and in this situation will not participate, but backs all political efforts towards resolution – and stay at the vanguard of relief efforts.

Arab Skepticism and Juridical Issues

The Emirati announcement, made by senior envoy Dr Anwar Gargash at a forum in Abu Dhabi, reflects Arab reservations about the terms of a US-drafted document already distributed to diplomats at the UN in New York. The draft places an onus on a US-directed stabilisation force to be the principal means of imposing security in Gaza after Israeli forces have withdrawn from the region.

Arab states would like expanded duties to be given to a distinct local law enforcement agency. International law would also forbid foreign troops from entering contested Palestinian territories unless there was clear local approval; otherwise, the mission could be viewed as imposed under international statutes, and potentially reinforcing an illegal presence.

Palestinian Perspectives and Appeals for Clarity

A Palestinian American co-author of the Palestinian armistice plan said: “It is critical that the force be deployed not to stabilise the unlawful Israeli occupation, but to enforce global standards and end it. The force will succeed as long as it operates in the whole occupied territory, including the West Bank, at the invitation of the Palestinian authorities, and has a clear goal to end the occupation within the context of a independent state of Palestine.”

The draft contains no mention to the West Bank in the US draft resolution, or to a Palestinian state, or a two-state solution, a outcome that Israeli leadership opposes.

Ongoing Negotiations and Possible Dangers

Detailed negotiations on the mission authority, including its leadership structure, began formally on Thursday in the UN headquarters, and look likely to be protracted – potentially creating the emergence of a power gap in Gaza that may strengthen militant factions.

The US is suggesting that it command the mission although it will not have a large number of troops deployed on the ground. It has previously effectively assumed command of the distribution of relief supplies into the territory from a recently established logistical hub based in the neighboring country.

Mission Mandate and Governance Role

The draft US resolution defines the aim of the stabilisation force as “together with the recently prepared and screened law enforcement to help secure frontier zones, secure the safety situation in the region by ensuring the process of demilitarising the territory including the elimination and prevention of rebuilding the military terror and offensive infrastructure as well as the permanent decommissioning of arms from non-state armed groups”.

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

Arab states including Qatari officials are also worried that this authority is too expansive, and if the group is to lay down arms, the faction will solely do so to local counterparts, likely in the civilian police force, at a time that, from the Hamas viewpoint, signifies the conclusion of Israeli presence.

They also fear the proposed authority extends to granting the stabilisation force a administrative role in the territory, a responsibility that was to be set aside for a local technocratic committee working in conjunction with a reformed local government.

Aid Aspects and Financial Issues

This “transitional governance administration” in the strip would stay until “the local government has satisfactorily completed its reform program, the approval of which shall be acceptable to the BoP”, the proposal states. It also “emphasizes the importance” of full humanitarian aid 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 found to have improperly used such assistance”. The phrase permits the council barring Unrwa, the organization that the global judicial body has ruled is the legal provider of assistance.

Global Diplomatic Efforts

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

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

Not the United Nations nor the 15-member UNSC are given a oversight role over the stabilisation force, monitoring the implementation of the resolution, a aspect largely overlooked by the draft text. Nothing is outlined about the funding of this stabilisation mission, which, as per the Americans, should be largely borne by regional nations, with Saudi Arabia taking the lead.

Israeli Demands and Regional Situations

Israeli authorities is requesting formal assurances from the US that it be allowed to follow the pattern of Lebanon and retain the authority to re-enter the territory if it believes disarmament is not taking place at a scale or pace it requires.

The Israeli proposal was put to Jared Kushner, the ex-president's son-in-law, and the American diplomat, Steve Witkoff. Kushner was in Jerusalem on this week to discuss developments on the ceasefire and the envoy was due to appear subsequently the that day.

Only the remains of a small number of the initial hundreds of captives are still unreturned.

Separately, Israeli officials has been suggesting that the Gaza Strip could still be divided in two with reconstruction work starting in the Israeli-controlled areas of the strip. Western diplomats maintain that this is no part of the Trump plan.