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Plans for an multinational stabilisation force mandated by the United Nations to demilitarize Hamas in the Gaza Strip are encountering growing resistance after the UAE announced it would not join due to the lack of a clear legal structure.

Increasing Global Reservations

Israeli authorities have previously ruled out Turkish involvement, and the Jordanian King Abdullah has stated that Jordanian troops will not participate. The Azerbaijani government, once mooted as a possible participant, did not attend a preparatory session in Istanbul and indicated it would not take part unless a full truce was in place.

Emirati officials does not yet see a clear structure for the stabilisation force and under such circumstances declines involvement, but will support all diplomatic efforts towards resolution – and stay at the forefront of relief efforts.

Regional Skepticism and Legal Concerns

The UAE's decision, delivered by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in Abu Dhabi, reflects regional reservations about the terms of a American-proposed document already distributed to diplomats at the UN in New York. The proposal assigns responsibility on a US-directed security mission to be the principal means of ensuring order in the territory after Israeli forces have left the territory.

Arab states would prefer expanded responsibilities to be given to a distinct local law enforcement agency. International law would also prohibit foreign troops from deploying into contested Palestine unless there was explicit local approval; otherwise, the force could be viewed as imposed under international statutes, and arguably stabilising an unlawful Israeli occupation.

Local Viewpoints and Appeals 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 illegal presence, but to enforce international law and terminate it. The force will succeed as long as it operates in the whole disputed land, including the West Bank, at the request of the Palestinian authorities, and has a defined goal to conclude the presence 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 peaceful resolution, a outcome that Israeli leadership rejects.

Continuing Negotiations and Possible Dangers

In-depth talks on the stabilisation force authority, including its command and control, started formally on Thursday in the UN headquarters, and appear to be protracted – potentially creating the development of a power gap in Gaza that may empower 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 already in effect taken control of the distribution of humanitarian aid into the territory from a new logistical hub based in Israel.

Mission Mandate and Governance Role

The draft US resolution defines the purpose of the security mission as “along with the recently prepared and screened police force to assist in protecting border areas, secure the safety situation in the region by guaranteeing the procedure of demilitarising the Gaza Strip including the destruction and prevention of reconstructing the militant and offensive infrastructure as well as the permanent removal of arms 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 achieve its goals.

Regional powers including Qatar are also concerned that this mandate is overly broad, and if the group is to lay down arms, the group will only do so to local counterparts, likely in the local law enforcement, at a time that, from the militant perspective, marks the end of Israeli presence.

They also fear the draft mandate extends to giving the mission a administrative function in Gaza, a responsibility that was to be reserved for a local expert panel working in conjunction with a restructured Palestinian Authority.

Humanitarian Considerations and Funding Questions

This “interim authority” in the strip would stay until “the local government has adequately finished its restructuring plan, the satisfaction of which shall be approved to the BoP”, the proposal states. It also “underscores the importance” of full humanitarian aid in Gaza, including through the United Nations, the ICRC, and the humanitarian organizations.

However, it opens the door the removal of “any group found to have improperly used such assistance”. The phrase permits the board of peace barring Unrwa, the body that the international court of justice has said is the legal distributor of aid.

International Political Efforts

French officials and Saudi Arabia are already pressing for a mention to a sovereign Palestine to be included in the resolution. The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is scheduled in the White House on 18 November, and Manal Radwan has stated that a mention to a independent Palestine is a prerequisite.

The Palestinian Authority leader, Mahmoud Abbas, met the French leader, Emmanuel Macron, in the French capital on Monday to discuss the PA role.

Not the UN nor the 15-member UNSC are assigned a oversight role over the mission, supervising the execution of the proposal, a point largely ignored by the draft text. No details is outlined about the financing of this stabilisation mission, which, according to the US officials, should be largely covered by Gulf states, with the Kingdom assuming primary responsibility.

Israeli Requests and Local Developments

Israel is seeking written guarantees from the US that it be allowed to follow the pattern of the Lebanese situation and retain the authority to re-enter Gaza if it considers demilitarization is not taking place at a scale or speed it requires.

The Israeli proposal was presented to the former US advisor, Donald Trump’s relative, and the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff. The advisor was in Jerusalem on Monday to review progress on the ceasefire and the envoy was due to arrive subsequently the that day.

Only the bodies of four of the initial hundreds of captives are still unreturned.

Separately, Israeli officials has been suggesting that the territory could yet be divided in two parts with reconstruction work starting in the Israeli-controlled areas of the region. International officials maintain that this is not part of the Trump plan.