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Plans for an multinational stabilisation force authorized by the UN to disarm the militant group in the Gaza Strip are encountering growing opposition after the UAE stated it would not join due to the absence of a well-defined legal framework.

Growing Global Concerns

Israel have previously excluded Turkey participation, and the Jordanian King Abdullah has stated that his country's forces will not join. Azerbaijan, once considered as a possible contributor, was absent from a preparatory meeting in Turkey and indicated it would not take part unless a full truce was in place.

Emirati officials lacks clarity on a clear framework for the stabilisation mission and under such circumstances declines involvement, but backs all diplomatic efforts towards resolution – and stay at the vanguard of humanitarian aid.

Arab Skepticism and Juridical Concerns

The Emirati announcement, made by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in Abu Dhabi, highlights regional reservations about the provisions of a American-proposed resolution 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 the territory after Israel have left the territory.

Arab states would like expanded responsibilities to be given to a separate local civilian police force. International law would also prohibit foreign troops from deploying into occupied Palestine unless there was explicit Palestinian consent; otherwise, the mission could be viewed as imposed under international statutes, and arguably stabilising an unlawful presence.

Palestinian Viewpoints and Calls for Clarity

A Palestinian American co-author of the ceasefire proposal said: “It is essential that the mission be sent not to reinforce the illegal presence, but to enforce global standards and terminate it. The force will succeed as long as it operates in the whole occupied territory, including the occupied territories, at the invitation of the Palestinian authorities, and has a defined objective to end the occupation within the framework of a independent Palestinian state.”

There is no reference to the West Bank in the US draft resolution, or to a Palestinian state, or a two-state solution, a outcome that Israel opposes.

Continuing Discussions and Potential Risks

In-depth negotiations on the mission mandate, including its command and control, began officially on Thursday in New York, and look likely to be lengthy – risking the emergence of a power gap in Gaza that may empower militant factions.

The US is proposing that it lead the force although it will not have many troops involved on the terrain. It has already effectively assumed command of the distribution of relief supplies into the territory from a recently established logistical hub based in the neighboring country.

Force Objectives and Administrative Role

The proposed American document outlines the aim of the security mission as “along with the newly trained and screened police force to assist in protecting border areas, stabilise the safety situation in the region by guaranteeing the procedure of demilitarising the Gaza Strip including the elimination and prevention of rebuilding the militant and hostile facilities as well as the lasting decommissioning of weapons from non-state armed groups”.

The force, answerable to a “peace council” chaired by the former US president, and not to the UN, would be required to use “any required actions” to fulfill its objectives.

Regional powers including Qatari officials are also worried that this mandate is overly broad, and if the group is to lay down arms, the faction will solely do so to fellow Palestinians, probably in the local law enforcement, at a time that, from the militant perspective, marks the conclusion of occupation.

They also worry the proposed authority spills into giving the mission a governance function in Gaza, a responsibility that was to be reserved for a Palestinian expert panel working in cooperation with a reformed Palestinian Authority.

Humanitarian Aspects and Financial Questions

This “interim authority” in Gaza would stay until “the local government has satisfactorily finished its restructuring plan, the satisfaction of which shall be acceptable to the board of peace”, the proposal says. It also “emphasizes the significance” of unhindered relief in the territory, including through the UN, the ICRC, and the humanitarian organizations.

Nonetheless, it opens the door the exclusion of “any organisation determined to have improperly used such assistance”. The phrase leaves open the council excluding Unrwa, the body that the international court of justice has said is the legal provider of aid.

International Diplomatic Initiatives

French officials and Saudi representatives are currently advocating for a mention to a sovereign Palestine to be included in the resolution. The Saudi leader, Mohammed bin Salman, is due in the US presidential residence 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, held talks with the French leader, Emmanuel Macron, in Paris on this week to review the authority's function.

Neither the United Nations nor the 15 strong UNSC are given a oversight function over the stabilisation force, supervising the execution of the resolution, a point mostly overlooked by the draft text. No details is outlined about the funding of this security operation, which, as per the US officials, should be mostly borne by regional nations, with the Kingdom taking the lead.

Israeli Requests and Local Situations

Israeli authorities is seeking written guarantees from the United States that it be permitted to emulate the pattern of Lebanon and retain the right to return to the territory if it considers demilitarization is not occurring at a level or speed it requires.

The request was put to the former US advisor, Donald Trump’s relative, and the American diplomat, Steve Witkoff. Kushner was in the Israeli capital on this week to discuss developments on the truce and the envoy was scheduled to arrive later the same day.

Only the bodies of a small number of the initial 251 Israeli hostages remain unreturned.

Independently, Israel has been suggesting that the territory could still be divided in two parts with rebuilding efforts starting in the Israeli-controlled parts of the region. International officials maintain that this is not part of the Trump plan.