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Plans for an multinational stabilisation force mandated by the United Nations to disarm the militant group in the Gaza Strip are facing growing opposition after the United Arab Emirates stated it will not take part due to the lack of a clear legal structure.

Growing International Concerns

Israel have previously ruled out Turkey participation, and the Jordanian King Abdullah has declared that his country's troops will not join. Azerbaijan, previously considered as a potential participant, was absent from a preparatory meeting in Turkey and indicated it would not contribute unless a complete ceasefire was established.

The UAE does not yet see a defined framework for the stabilisation force and in this situation will not participate, but will support all diplomatic initiatives towards peace – and remain at the forefront of humanitarian aid.

Regional Doubts and Juridical Concerns

The Emirati announcement, made by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in Abu Dhabi, highlights Arab doubts about the provisions of a US-drafted resolution previously distributed to diplomats at the UN in New York. The proposal places an onus on a American-led stabilisation force to be the primary means of ensuring security in the territory after Israel have left the territory.

Regional governments would like expanded responsibilities to be assigned to a distinct local civilian police force. International law would also forbid foreign troops from entering occupied Palestine unless there was explicit local approval; without it, the force could be seen as coercive under international statutes, and arguably reinforcing an unlawful Israeli occupation.

Local Viewpoints and Appeals for Clarity

Jamal Nusseibeh of the ceasefire proposal said: “It is critical that the force be sent not to reinforce the unlawful presence, but to uphold international law and end it. The mission will succeed as long as it operates in the whole disputed land, including the West Bank, at the invitation of Palestine, and has a clear goal to conclude the presence within the context of a independent Palestinian state.”

There is no mention to the West Bank in the American proposal, or to a Palestinian state, or a peaceful resolution, a outcome that Israel rejects.

Continuing Negotiations and Possible Dangers

In-depth negotiations on the stabilisation force authority, including its leadership structure, began officially on Thursday in New York, and look likely to be protracted – potentially creating the emergence of a power gap in Gaza that may strengthen militant factions.

The US 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 taken control of the distribution of humanitarian aid into Gaza from a recently established civil military coordination centre based in Israel.

Mission Objectives and Governance Function

The proposed American document defines the aim of the security mission as “together with the recently prepared and vetted law enforcement to assist in protecting border areas, stabilise the safety situation in the region by ensuring the process of demilitarising the Gaza Strip including the elimination and prevention of rebuilding the military terror and offensive infrastructure as well as the permanent removal of weapons from non-state armed groups”.

The force, answerable to a “board of peace” led by Donald Trump, and not to the United Nations, would be mandated to use “all necessary measures” to achieve its objectives.

Regional powers including Qatar are also concerned that this mandate is too expansive, and if Hamas is to disarm, the group will only do so to local counterparts, likely in the civilian police force, at a moment that, from the Hamas perspective, signifies the conclusion of occupation.

They also fear the proposed authority extends to giving the mission a administrative function in the territory, a responsibility that was to be reserved for a Palestinian technocratic committee working in conjunction with a restructured Palestinian Authority.

Aid Aspects and Funding Questions

This “transitional governance administration” in Gaza would remain until “the local government has adequately completed its reform program, the approval of which shall be acceptable to the BoP”, the proposal states. It also “emphasizes the significance” of unhindered relief in Gaza, 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 group determined to have misused such aid”. The phrase permits the board of peace excluding the UN relief agency, the body that the global judicial body has ruled is the legal distributor of aid.

Global Political Initiatives

French officials and Saudi representatives are currently pressing for a mention to a sovereign Palestine to be included in the resolution. The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is scheduled in the White House on the specified date, and Manal Radwan has stated that a reference to a Palestinian state is a prerequisite.

The PA chair, Mahmoud Abbas, met the French leader, Emmanuel Macron, in the French capital on Monday to review the authority's function.

Not the UN nor the 15-member security council are assigned a supervisory function over the mission, supervising the implementation of the resolution, a point mostly overlooked by the draft text. Nothing is outlined about the funding of this stabilisation mission, which, as per the Americans, should be largely borne by Gulf states, with the Kingdom assuming primary responsibility.

Israel's Requests and Local Developments

Israel is requesting formal assurances from the US that it be permitted to follow the pattern of the Lebanese situation and retain the right to re-enter the territory if it considers disarmament is not taking place at a scale or pace it demands.

The request was presented to Jared Kushner, the ex-president's relative, and the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff. The advisor was in Jerusalem on Monday to discuss developments on the truce and Witkoff was due to appear subsequently the that day.

Just the remains of a small number of the original 251 captives remain not recovered.

Separately, Israeli officials has been proposing that the Gaza Strip could yet be split in two parts with reconstruction work starting in the Israel occupied parts of the region. International officials maintain that this is not part of the Trump plan.