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Proposals for an international stabilisation force mandated by the United Nations to demilitarize the militant group in the Gaza Strip are encountering growing resistance after the UAE announced it will not take part due to the lack of a well-defined legal framework.

Increasing International Reservations

Israeli authorities have previously ruled out Turkish involvement, and the Jordanian King Abdullah has stated that Jordanian forces will not join. Azerbaijan, once mooted as a possible participant, did not attend a planning session in Istanbul and said it would not contribute unless a full truce was established.

The UAE lacks clarity on a defined structure for the stability force and in this situation declines involvement, but backs all diplomatic efforts towards resolution – and remain at the vanguard of relief efforts.

Regional Doubts and Legal Issues

The UAE's decision, delivered by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a forum in the UAE capital, highlights regional reservations about the terms of a US-drafted resolution already circulated to diplomats at the UN in New York. The draft assigns responsibility on a American-led stabilisation force to be the principal means of ensuring order in Gaza after Israeli forces have left the territory.

Regional governments would prefer greater responsibilities to be assigned to a separate local civilian police force. International law would also prohibit external forces from deploying into occupied Palestinian territories unless there was clear local approval; otherwise, the force could be seen as imposed under UN law, and potentially reinforcing an unlawful presence.

Local Viewpoints and Appeals for Clarity

A Palestinian American co-author of the ceasefire proposal commented: “It is critical that the mission be deployed not to reinforce the unlawful presence, but to uphold global standards and end it. The mission will succeed as long as it operates in the whole occupied territory, including the occupied territories, at the request of Palestine, and has a defined goal to conclude the presence within the context of a sovereign Palestinian state.”

The draft contains no mention to the occupied territories in the American proposal, or to a sovereign Palestine, or a peaceful resolution, a outcome that Israel rejects.

Ongoing Negotiations and Possible Dangers

Detailed talks on the mission authority, including its leadership structure, started officially on last week in the UN headquarters, and appear to be lengthy – risking the development of a power gap in the strip that may empower Hamas.

The United States is suggesting that it command the force although it will not have many personnel deployed on the ground. It has previously in effect taken control of the distribution of humanitarian aid into the territory from a recently established logistical hub based in the neighboring country.

Force Objectives and Administrative Role

The proposed American document defines the purpose of the stabilisation force as “together with the recently prepared and screened law enforcement to help secure border areas, stabilise the safety situation in the region by guaranteeing the process of disarming the Gaza Strip including the elimination and prevention of rebuilding the militant and offensive infrastructure as well as the lasting removal of weapons from non-state armed groups”.

The mission, reporting to a “board of peace” led by Donald Trump, and not to the United Nations, would be required to use “all necessary measures” to achieve its goals.

Arab states including Qatar are also worried that this authority is overly broad, and if the group is to lay down arms, the faction will only do so to local counterparts, probably in the civilian police force, at a moment that, from the militant viewpoint, marks the end of Israeli presence.

They also fear the proposed authority extends to giving the stabilisation force a administrative function in the territory, a responsibility that was to be set aside for a Palestinian expert panel working in cooperation with a restructured Palestinian Authority.

Aid Considerations and Funding Questions

This “transitional governance administration” in Gaza would stay until “the local government has adequately finished its restructuring plan, the approval of which shall be acceptable to the board of peace”, the draft states. It also “emphasizes the significance” of unhindered relief in Gaza, including through the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the humanitarian organizations.

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

Global Political Initiatives

France and Saudi Arabia are currently pressing for a mention to a sovereign Palestine to be added in the document. The Saudi leader, Mohammed bin Salman, is scheduled in the US presidential residence on the specified date, and Manal Radwan has stated that a reference to a Palestinian state is a requirement.

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

Not the UN nor the 15 strong UNSC are given a oversight role over the stabilisation force, monitoring the implementation of the proposal, a point largely overlooked by the draft text. Nothing is outlined about the funding of this security operation, which, as per the Americans, should be largely covered by Gulf states, with the Kingdom taking the lead.

Israel's Requests and Local Developments

Israeli authorities is seeking written guarantees from the United States that it be permitted to follow the model of Lebanon and retain the authority to return to Gaza if it believes disarmament is not taking place at a level or pace it requires.

The request was presented to the former US advisor, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, and the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff. The advisor was in Jerusalem on Monday to review developments on the ceasefire and Witkoff was scheduled to arrive later the same day.

Just the bodies of four of the initial 251 captives remain not recovered.

Independently, Israeli officials has been suggesting that the territory could yet be divided in two with rebuilding efforts beginning in the Israeli-controlled parts of the region. International officials insist that this is no part of the Trump plan.