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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 resistance after the United Arab Emirates stated it will not join due to the absence of a well-defined legal framework.

Growing Global Concerns

Israel have already ruled out Turkish involvement, and Jordan's King Abdullah has stated that his country's forces will not join. Azerbaijan, once mooted as a possible participant, was absent from a preparatory session in Turkey and said it would not contribute unless a complete truce was established.

Emirati officials does not yet see a clear framework for the stability mission and under such circumstances will not participate, but will support all political efforts towards resolution – and remain at the forefront of humanitarian aid.

Arab Doubts and Legal Concerns

The UAE's decision, made by senior envoy Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in Abu Dhabi, reflects Arab reservations about the terms of a US-drafted document previously circulated to diplomats at the UN in NYC. The proposal places an onus on a US-directed security mission to be the primary means of ensuring order in Gaza after Israel have left the territory.

Arab states would prefer greater duties to be assigned to a separate local law enforcement agency. Global jurisprudence would also forbid foreign troops from deploying into occupied Palestine unless there was explicit Palestinian consent; otherwise, the force could be viewed as imposed under UN law, and arguably reinforcing an illegal presence.

Local Perspectives and Appeals for Definition

Jamal Nusseibeh of the Palestinian armistice plan said: “It is critical that the mission be sent not to reinforce the unlawful Israeli occupation, but to uphold global standards and end it. The mission will work as long as it operates in the whole disputed land, including the occupied territories, at the request of Palestine, and has a defined goal to end the presence within the framework of a independent Palestinian state.”

There is no reference to the West Bank in the American proposal, or to a Palestinian state, or a peaceful resolution, a prospect that Israeli leadership rejects.

Continuing Negotiations and Possible Risks

In-depth negotiations on the stabilisation force mandate, including its command and control, began formally on Thursday in the UN headquarters, and appear to be lengthy – risking the development of a power gap in the strip that may strengthen Hamas.

The United States is suggesting that it lead the mission although it will not have a large number of personnel deployed on the terrain. It has already in effect assumed command of the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza from a new civil military coordination centre based in Israel.

Mission Mandate and Administrative Role

The draft US resolution outlines the aim of the security mission as “together with the newly trained and vetted police force to help secure frontier zones, secure the security environment in Gaza by guaranteeing the process of demilitarising the Gaza Strip including the elimination and prevention of reconstructing the military terror and offensive infrastructure as well as the permanent decommissioning of arms from non-state armed groups”.

The force, answerable to a “peace council” led by the former US president, and not to the United Nations, would be required to use “any required actions” to achieve its goals.

Arab states including Qatar are also concerned that this mandate is overly broad, and if Hamas is to disarm, the group will solely do so to local counterparts, probably in the local law enforcement, at a time that, from the militant perspective, signifies the conclusion of occupation.

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

Humanitarian Considerations and Funding Questions

This “interim authority” in the strip would remain until “the Palestinian Authority has adequately completed its restructuring plan, the approval of which shall be approved to the board of peace”, the draft says. It also “underscores the importance” of unhindered relief in the territory, including through the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Red Crescent.

However, it allows for the removal of “any group found to have improperly used such assistance”. The wording leaves open the board of peace barring Unrwa, the organization that the global judicial body has said is the lawful provider of aid.

International Diplomatic Initiatives

French officials and Saudi representatives are currently advocating for a mention to a Palestinian state to be included in the document. The Saudi leader, Mohammed bin Salman, is scheduled in the US presidential residence on 18 November, and a Saudi foreign ministry official has said that a reference to a independent Palestine is a requirement.

The PA chair, Mahmoud Abbas, held talks with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, in Paris on Monday to review the authority's function.

Not the United Nations nor the 15 strong UNSC are assigned a oversight role over the mission, monitoring the execution of the proposal, a point mostly ignored by the proposed document. No details is outlined about the financing of this security operation, which, according to the US officials, should be largely covered by Gulf states, with Saudi Arabia taking the lead.

Israeli Demands and Local Developments

Israeli authorities is seeking formal assurances from the US that it be permitted to follow the pattern of Lebanon and retain the authority to return to Gaza if it believes disarmament is not occurring at a scale or speed it demands.

The request was put to the former US advisor, the ex-president's son-in-law, and the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff. Kushner was in Jerusalem on Monday to review developments on the truce and Witkoff was due to arrive later the same day.

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

Separately, Israel has been proposing that the territory could yet be split in two with rebuilding efforts starting in the Israeli-controlled parts of the region. International officials maintain that this is not part of the Trump plan.