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Proposals for an international stabilisation force authorized by the United Nations to disarm Hamas in Gaza are encountering growing resistance after the United Arab Emirates stated it will not join due to the lack of a clear legal framework.

Increasing International Reservations

Israel have already excluded Turkey participation, and Jordan's King Abdullah has declared that his country's troops will not join. The Azerbaijani government, previously considered as a potential contributor, did not attend a preparatory session in Istanbul and indicated it would not take part unless a complete ceasefire was in place.

The UAE does not yet see a clear structure for the stabilisation mission and under such circumstances will not participate, but backs all diplomatic efforts towards resolution – and stay at the vanguard of humanitarian aid.

Arab Doubts and Juridical Issues

The UAE's decision, delivered by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in the UAE capital, highlights regional reservations about the provisions of a American-proposed resolution already distributed to delegates at the UN in New York. The proposal places an onus on a American-led security mission to be the primary means of ensuring security in the territory after Israeli forces have left the territory.

Arab states would like expanded responsibilities to be assigned to a distinct Palestinian civilian police force. International law would also prohibit foreign troops from deploying into contested Palestinian territories unless there was explicit Palestinian consent; without it, the mission could be viewed as imposed under international statutes, and arguably stabilising an unlawful Israeli occupation.

Local Viewpoints and Appeals for Definition

Jamal Nusseibeh of the Palestinian armistice plan commented: “It is critical that the force be deployed not to stabilise the unlawful Israeli occupation, but to enforce international law and end it. The mission will work as long as it operates in the entire disputed land, including the West Bank, at the invitation of the Palestinian authorities, and has a clear objective to end the presence within the framework of a independent Palestinian state.”

There is no mention to the occupied territories in the American proposal, or to a Palestinian state, or a two-state solution, a outcome that Israel opposes.

Continuing Discussions and Potential Dangers

Detailed talks on the stabilisation force mandate, including its command and control, began formally on last week in New York, and appear to be protracted – potentially creating the development of a power gap in the strip that may strengthen Hamas.

The US is suggesting that it lead the force although it will not have many personnel deployed on the terrain. It has previously in effect assumed command of the delivery of relief supplies into Gaza from a recently established logistical hub based in Israel.

Mission Mandate and Administrative Function

The draft US resolution defines the purpose of the stabilisation force as “along with the newly trained and vetted law enforcement to help secure frontier zones, stabilise the security environment in the region by ensuring the procedure of demilitarising the Gaza Strip including the elimination and blocking of rebuilding the militant and hostile facilities as well as the lasting decommissioning of weapons from militant factions”.

The force, answerable to a “peace council” led by Donald Trump, and not to the UN, would be required to use “any required actions” to fulfill its goals.

Arab states including Qatar are also concerned that this mandate is too expansive, and if Hamas is to disarm, the group will solely do so to fellow Palestinians, probably in the civilian police force, at a moment that, from the militant perspective, signifies the end of Israeli presence.

They also worry the proposed authority extends to giving the stabilisation force a governance function in Gaza, a task that was to be set aside for a Palestinian technocratic committee working in cooperation with a restructured local government.

Humanitarian Aspects and Financial Questions

This “interim authority” in Gaza would stay until “the local government has satisfactorily completed its restructuring plan, the satisfaction of which shall be approved to the BoP”, the draft says. It also “underscores the importance” of full humanitarian aid in the territory, 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 aid”. The wording leaves open the board of peace barring the UN relief agency, the body that the global judicial body has said is the legal distributor of aid.

International Diplomatic Efforts

France and Saudi representatives are currently pressing for a mention to a sovereign Palestine to be added in the resolution. The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is scheduled in the White House on the specified date, and a Saudi foreign ministry official has said that a reference to a independent Palestine is a prerequisite.

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

Neither the UN nor the 15 strong UNSC are assigned a supervisory role over the stabilisation force, supervising the implementation of the resolution, a point mostly ignored by the proposed document. No details is outlined about the financing of this security operation, which, according to the Americans, should be mostly covered by Gulf states, with the Kingdom assuming primary responsibility.

Israel's Demands and Local Developments

Israeli authorities is requesting written guarantees from the US that it be allowed to emulate the pattern of Lebanon and retain the right to return to Gaza if it believes disarmament is not taking place at a level or pace 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 discuss progress on the truce and Witkoff was due to appear subsequently the that day.

Just the bodies of four of the initial 251 Israeli hostages are still not recovered.

Independently, Israel has been proposing that the territory could still be divided in two with rebuilding efforts beginning in the Israel occupied areas of the region. International officials insist that this is no part of the former US administration's proposal.