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Plans for an multinational stabilisation force authorized by the United Nations to disarm the militant group in the Gaza Strip are encountering growing opposition after the United Arab Emirates stated it will not take part due to the lack of a clear legal structure.

Growing Global Reservations

Israel have previously excluded Turkey participation, and Jordan's King Abdullah has declared that Jordanian forces will not participate. Azerbaijan, once mooted as a possible participant, did not attend a preparatory meeting in Istanbul and said it would not take part unless a full ceasefire was established.

The UAE lacks clarity on a defined framework for the stabilisation force and in this situation will not participate, but will support all diplomatic initiatives towards resolution – and stay at the vanguard of humanitarian aid.

Regional Skepticism and Legal Concerns

The UAE's decision, made by senior envoy Dr Anwar Gargash at a forum in Abu Dhabi, highlights Arab doubts about the terms of a American-proposed resolution already distributed to diplomats at the UN in NYC. The draft assigns responsibility on a US-directed stabilisation force to be the primary means of ensuring order in Gaza after Israel have withdrawn from the region.

Arab states would prefer expanded duties to be given to a distinct local law enforcement agency. Global jurisprudence would also forbid external forces from deploying into occupied Palestine unless there was clear local approval; otherwise, the force could be viewed as imposed under UN law, and potentially stabilising an illegal Israeli occupation.

Local Perspectives and Calls for Definition

A Palestinian American co-author of the ceasefire proposal said: “It is critical that the mission be deployed not to reinforce the unlawful Israeli occupation, but to uphold global standards and end it. The force will succeed as long as it operates in the entire disputed land, including the West Bank, at the invitation of Palestine, and has a clear goal to conclude the presence within the context of a sovereign state of Palestine.”

There is no mention to the West Bank in the American proposal, or to a sovereign Palestine, or a peaceful resolution, a prospect that Israeli leadership opposes.

Ongoing Negotiations and Potential Risks

In-depth negotiations on the mission authority, including its command and control, began officially on Thursday in the UN headquarters, and look likely to be lengthy – risking the development of a vacuum in Gaza that may empower militant factions.

The United States is suggesting that it command the force although it will not have many troops involved on the terrain. It has already in effect taken control of the distribution of humanitarian aid into the territory from a recently established logistical hub based in Israel.

Force Objectives and Administrative Function

The draft US resolution outlines the aim of the security mission as “along with the newly trained and screened law enforcement to assist in protecting border areas, stabilise the security environment in Gaza by ensuring the process of disarming the Gaza Strip including the elimination and prevention of rebuilding the military terror and hostile facilities as well as the permanent removal of arms from militant factions”.

The mission, answerable to a “board of peace” led by the former US president, and not to the United Nations, would be mandated to use “any required actions” to achieve its objectives.

Arab states including Qatari officials are also concerned that this authority is too expansive, and if the group is to disarm, the group will solely do so to fellow Palestinians, likely in the local law enforcement, at a time that, from the militant viewpoint, marks the conclusion of occupation.

They also worry the proposed authority extends to granting the stabilisation force a administrative function in the territory, a task that was to be reserved for a Palestinian technocratic committee working in cooperation with a reformed local government.

Aid Considerations and Financial Questions

This “transitional governance administration” in Gaza would stay until “the Palestinian Authority has adequately completed its reform program, the approval of which shall be approved to the board of peace”, the proposal states. It also “emphasizes the significance” of full humanitarian aid in Gaza, including through the UN, the ICRC, and the humanitarian organizations.

Nonetheless, it allows for the removal of “any group determined to have misused such aid”. The wording permits the council barring Unrwa, the organization that the global judicial body has ruled is the legal distributor of assistance.

Global Political Efforts

France and Saudi Arabia are currently advocating for a reference to a Palestinian state to be added in the document. The Saudi leader, Mohammed bin Salman, is due in the US presidential residence on the specified date, and Manal Radwan 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 the French capital on this week to discuss the PA role.

Neither the United Nations nor the 15 strong security council are given a supervisory function over the stabilisation force, monitoring the implementation of the resolution, a point largely overlooked by the draft text. No details is outlined about the funding of this stabilisation mission, which, according to the US officials, should be mostly covered by Gulf states, with the Kingdom taking the lead.

Israel's Requests and Local Situations

Israeli authorities is requesting formal assurances from the United States that it be allowed to emulate the model of Lebanon and reserve the authority to return to Gaza if it considers demilitarization is not occurring at a scale or speed it requires.

The request was put to the former US advisor, the ex-president's relative, and the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff. The advisor was in Jerusalem on this week to review progress on the ceasefire and the envoy was scheduled to arrive later the same day.

Only the bodies of a small number of the original hundreds of Israeli hostages are still not recovered.

Separately, Israel has been suggesting that the territory could still be split in two parts with rebuilding efforts starting in the Israeli-controlled areas of the region. Western diplomats maintain that this is no part of the Trump plan.