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Proposals for an international stabilisation force authorized by the United Nations to disarm the militant group in Gaza are facing increasing opposition after the United Arab Emirates announced it will not join due to the lack of a well-defined legal structure.

Growing Global Concerns

Israeli authorities have already ruled out Turkey involvement, and the Jordanian King Abdullah has declared that his country's forces will not participate. Azerbaijan, once mooted as a potential contributor, was absent from a preparatory meeting in Istanbul and indicated it would not contribute unless a full ceasefire was in place.

The UAE lacks clarity on a clear structure for the stability mission and in this situation will not participate, but backs all political efforts towards peace – and remain at the vanguard of humanitarian aid.

Arab Doubts and Juridical Concerns

The UAE's decision, delivered by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in Abu Dhabi, reflects regional doubts about the terms of a US-drafted document previously distributed to diplomats at the UN in New York. The draft assigns responsibility on a US-directed stabilisation force to be the principal means of ensuring security in the territory after Israel have left the region.

Arab states would like greater duties to be given to a separate local civilian police force. Global jurisprudence would also prohibit foreign troops from entering occupied Palestine unless there was clear Palestinian consent; otherwise, the force could be seen as coercive under international statutes, and potentially stabilising an illegal presence.

Palestinian Viewpoints and Appeals for Definition

A Palestinian American co-author of the Palestinian armistice plan commented: “It is essential that the mission be deployed not to stabilise the illegal Israeli occupation, but to enforce international law and end it. The force will succeed as long as it enters the entire disputed land, including the occupied territories, at the request of Palestine, and has a clear objective to conclude the occupation within the framework of a independent state of Palestine.”

There is no mention to the West Bank in the American proposal, or to a Palestinian state, or a peaceful resolution, a prospect that Israeli leadership opposes.

Ongoing Negotiations and Potential Dangers

Detailed talks on the stabilisation force authority, including its command and control, started formally on Thursday in New York, and look likely to be protracted – risking the development of a vacuum in the strip that may strengthen militant factions.

The US is proposing that it lead the force although it will not have a large number of personnel involved on the ground. It has already effectively assumed command of the delivery of relief supplies into the territory from a new logistical hub based in Israel.

Force Mandate and Administrative Function

The draft American document defines the purpose of the stabilisation force as “along with the recently prepared and vetted law enforcement to assist in protecting border areas, stabilise the safety situation in Gaza by guaranteeing the process of disarming the territory including the elimination and prevention of rebuilding the militant and offensive infrastructure as well as the lasting decommissioning of weapons from non-state armed groups”.

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

Regional powers including Qatari officials are also concerned that this mandate is too expansive, and if Hamas is to disarm, the faction will solely do so to fellow Palestinians, probably in the civilian police force, at a moment that, from the militant perspective, signifies the conclusion of Israeli presence.

They also worry the proposed authority extends to giving the stabilisation force a administrative function in the territory, a responsibility that was to be reserved for a Palestinian technocratic committee working in conjunction with a restructured local government.

Aid Aspects and Funding Issues

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

Nonetheless, it opens the door the removal of “any group found to have misused such aid”. The wording permits the board of peace excluding the UN relief agency, the organization that the global judicial body has ruled is the lawful provider of aid.

Global Diplomatic Efforts

France and Saudi representatives are currently advocating for a mention to a Palestinian state to be included in the document. The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is scheduled in the US presidential residence on the specified date, and Manal Radwan has stated that a mention to a independent Palestine is a requirement.

The Palestinian Authority leader, Mahmoud Abbas, held talks with the French leader, Emmanuel Macron, in the French capital on Monday to discuss the authority's function.

Not the UN nor the 15 strong UNSC are assigned a supervisory function over the stabilisation force, supervising the implementation of the proposal, a point largely ignored by the draft text. No details is outlined about the funding of this security operation, which, according to the Americans, should be largely borne by Gulf states, with the Kingdom taking the lead.

Israel's Requests and Local Developments

Israel is requesting written guarantees from the US that it be permitted 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 scale or speed it demands.

The Israeli proposal was presented to Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s relative, and the American diplomat, Steve Witkoff. Kushner was in the Israeli capital on Monday to review progress on the ceasefire and the envoy was scheduled to appear subsequently the same day.

Only the remains of four of the initial 251 captives are still 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 areas of the strip. International officials maintain that this is not part of the Trump plan.