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Proposals for an international stabilisation force mandated by the UN to disarm the militant group in Gaza are facing increasing resistance after the UAE stated it would not take part due to the lack of a well-defined legal structure.

Growing Global Concerns

Israel have already ruled out Turkish involvement, and Jordan's King Abdullah has stated that his country's troops will not participate. Azerbaijan, previously considered as a potential participant, did not attend a preparatory meeting in Turkey and said it would not take part unless a complete ceasefire was in place.

The UAE lacks clarity on a defined structure for the stabilisation mission and in this situation will not participate, but will support all political efforts towards peace – and stay at the forefront of humanitarian aid.

Regional Skepticism and Legal Concerns

The UAE's decision, made 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 diplomats at the UN in NYC. The draft assigns responsibility on a American-led security mission to be the principal means of ensuring order in the territory after Israeli forces have withdrawn from the region.

Arab states would like expanded responsibilities to be given to a distinct local law enforcement agency. International law would also forbid foreign troops from deploying into occupied Palestinian territories unless there was clear local approval; without it, the mission could be viewed as coercive under international statutes, and potentially stabilising an illegal presence.

Local Viewpoints and Calls for Clarity

A Palestinian American co-author of the ceasefire proposal said: “It is essential that the mission be deployed not to stabilise the unlawful presence, but to uphold international law and end it. The force will succeed as long as it enters the entire occupied territory, including the West Bank, at the request of Palestine, and has a clear goal to end 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 two-state solution, a outcome that Israel rejects.

Continuing Discussions and Potential Risks

Detailed talks on the mission authority, including its command and control, started formally on Thursday in New York, and appear to be protracted – potentially creating the emergence of a power gap in the strip that may strengthen militant factions.

The United States is proposing that it lead the mission although it will not have many personnel deployed on the terrain. It has already in effect assumed command of the delivery of humanitarian aid into the territory from a recently established logistical hub based in the neighboring country.

Force Objectives and Governance Function

The draft American document outlines the purpose of the security mission as “along with the recently prepared and vetted law enforcement to help secure border areas, secure the safety situation in Gaza by ensuring the process of disarming the Gaza Strip including the elimination and prevention of rebuilding the militant and hostile facilities as well as the permanent decommissioning of weapons from militant factions”.

The force, reporting to a “board of peace” chaired by Donald Trump, and not to the UN, would be mandated to use “all necessary measures” to fulfill its goals.

Regional powers including Qatar are also worried that this authority is too expansive, and if the group is to lay down arms, the faction will solely do so to fellow Palestinians, likely in the civilian police force, at a moment that, from the Hamas viewpoint, signifies the conclusion of occupation.

They also fear the draft mandate extends to granting the stabilisation force a governance function in the territory, a responsibility that was to be reserved for a local expert panel working in cooperation with a reformed local government.

Humanitarian Aspects and Financial Questions

This “interim authority” in Gaza would stay until “the Palestinian Authority has adequately finished its reform program, the satisfaction of which shall be approved to the board of peace”, the draft states. It also “underscores the importance” of unhindered relief in Gaza, including through the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the humanitarian organizations.

Nonetheless, it opens the door the removal of “any organisation determined to have improperly used such aid”. The wording leaves open the council excluding Unrwa, the organization that the international court of justice has said is the legal distributor of assistance.

International Political Efforts

French officials 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 18 November, and Manal Radwan has stated that a mention to a independent Palestine is a requirement.

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

Neither the UN nor the 15 strong UNSC are given a oversight function over the stabilisation force, monitoring the execution of the proposal, a point largely ignored by the proposed document. No details is outlined about the financing of this security operation, which, as per the US officials, should be largely borne by regional nations, with Saudi Arabia assuming primary responsibility.

Israeli Requests and Local Developments

Israel is requesting written guarantees from the United States that it be allowed to emulate the model of the Lebanese situation and retain the authority to return to Gaza if it considers demilitarization is not taking place at a level or speed it demands.

The request was put to the former US advisor, the ex-president's son-in-law, and the American diplomat, Steve Witkoff. The advisor was in Jerusalem on Monday to discuss developments on the ceasefire and Witkoff was due to appear subsequently the that day.

Only the bodies of four of the original 251 captives are still not recovered.

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