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Plans for an multinational security mission mandated by the UN to demilitarize the militant group in Gaza are facing increasing opposition after the United Arab Emirates stated it would not take part due to the lack of a well-defined legal structure.

Increasing International Concerns

Israel have previously ruled out Turkish participation, and Jordan's King Abdullah has stated that Jordanian troops will not participate. Azerbaijan, previously considered as a possible participant, did not attend a preparatory session in Turkey and said it would not contribute unless a full ceasefire was in place.

Emirati officials does not yet see a defined framework for the stability mission and in this situation will not participate, but will support all political efforts towards resolution – and remain at the forefront of humanitarian aid.

Regional Skepticism and Legal Concerns

The UAE's announcement, delivered by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a forum in Abu Dhabi, reflects regional reservations about the terms of a US-drafted document already distributed to delegates at the UN in New York. The proposal places an onus on a American-led stabilisation force to be the primary means of imposing security in Gaza after Israel have withdrawn from the region.

Regional governments would like greater duties to be given to a distinct Palestinian law enforcement agency. Global jurisprudence would also prohibit foreign troops from entering contested Palestinian territories unless there was explicit local approval; without it, the mission could be seen as imposed under UN law, and arguably reinforcing an illegal presence.

Palestinian Perspectives and Calls for Clarity

A Palestinian American co-author of the ceasefire proposal commented: “It is essential that the force be sent not to reinforce the unlawful Israeli occupation, but to enforce international law and end it. The force will work as long as it operates in the whole disputed land, including the West Bank, at the request of the Palestinian authorities, and has a clear objective to conclude the presence within the context of a independent state of Palestine.”

The draft contains no mention to the West Bank in the American proposal, or to a Palestinian state, or a peaceful resolution, a outcome that Israel opposes.

Ongoing Discussions and Possible Risks

Detailed negotiations on the mission authority, including its command and control, started officially on last week in New York, and appear to be lengthy – potentially creating the emergence of a power gap in Gaza that may empower militant factions.

The US is proposing that it command the force although it will not have a large number of troops involved on the ground. It has previously effectively taken control of the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza from a recently established civil military coordination centre based in Israel.

Force Objectives and Governance Function

The draft US resolution outlines the aim of the security mission as “along with the recently prepared and screened police force to help secure border areas, secure the safety situation in Gaza by ensuring the procedure of demilitarising the Gaza Strip including the elimination and prevention of rebuilding the militant and hostile facilities as well as the lasting decommissioning of weapons from militant factions”.

The mission, answerable to a “peace council” led by Donald Trump, and not to the United Nations, would be required to use “all necessary measures” to fulfill its objectives.

Arab states including Qatari officials are also concerned that this mandate is overly broad, and if Hamas is to lay down arms, the group will only do so to local counterparts, probably in the civilian police force, at a time that, from the Hamas perspective, marks the conclusion of Israeli presence.

They also worry the draft mandate spills into granting the mission a administrative role in the territory, a task that was to be set aside for a Palestinian expert panel working in conjunction with a restructured local government.

Aid Aspects and Funding Issues

This “transitional governance administration” in the strip would remain until “the Palestinian Authority has satisfactorily finished its restructuring plan, the approval of which shall be approved to the BoP”, the draft says. It also “underscores the significance” of full relief in the territory, including through the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the humanitarian organizations.

However, it opens the door the exclusion of “any organisation determined to have misused such aid”. The wording permits the council excluding Unrwa, the body that the international court of justice has ruled is the legal provider of assistance.

Global Diplomatic Efforts

France and Saudi Arabia are already pressing for a mention to a sovereign Palestine to be included in the resolution. The Saudi leader, Mohammed bin Salman, is scheduled in the White House on the specified date, and a Saudi foreign ministry official has stated that a mention to a independent Palestine is a requirement.

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

Not the UN nor the 15 strong security council are given a oversight function over the stabilisation force, monitoring the implementation of the proposal, a point largely ignored by the draft text. No details is specified about the funding of this stabilisation mission, which, as per the Americans, should be largely borne by regional nations, with Saudi Arabia assuming primary responsibility.

Israeli Requests and Regional Developments

Israeli authorities is seeking formal assurances from the US that it be allowed to follow the model of Lebanon and retain the authority to return to the territory if it considers disarmament is not occurring at a scale or speed it requires.

The Israeli proposal was put to the former US advisor, the ex-president's son-in-law, and the American diplomat, Steve Witkoff. Kushner was in Jerusalem on this week to review progress on the truce and the envoy was scheduled to arrive later the same day.

Just the remains of a small number of the initial 251 Israeli hostages remain unreturned.

Independently, Israeli officials has been suggesting that the territory could still be split in two parts with reconstruction work starting in the Israeli-controlled parts of the strip. Western diplomats insist that this is not part of the former US administration's proposal.