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Plans for an multinational security mission mandated by the United Nations to disarm Hamas in Gaza are facing growing opposition after the UAE announced it will not take part due to the absence of a clear legal framework.

Increasing International Reservations

Israel have previously ruled out Turkish participation, and Jordan's King Abdullah has declared that his country's forces will not participate. Azerbaijan, once considered as a possible participant, was absent from a planning session in Turkey and indicated it would not take part unless a complete truce was established.

The UAE lacks clarity on a clear structure for the stability mission and under such circumstances will not participate, but will support all political initiatives towards resolution – and remain at the forefront of relief efforts.

Regional Doubts and Legal Issues

The Emirati decision, made by senior envoy Dr Anwar Gargash at a forum in Abu Dhabi, highlights Arab reservations about the provisions of a American-proposed document already distributed to diplomats at the UN in NYC. The draft assigns responsibility on a American-led stabilisation force to be the principal means of imposing order in the territory after Israeli forces have withdrawn from the territory.

Arab states would prefer greater responsibilities to be given to a separate Palestinian law enforcement agency. Global jurisprudence would also prohibit external forces from entering contested Palestine unless there was explicit Palestinian consent; otherwise, the force could be viewed as imposed under international statutes, and arguably reinforcing an illegal presence.

Local Perspectives and Appeals for Definition

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

The draft contains no mention to the West Bank in the US draft resolution, or to a sovereign Palestine, or a peaceful resolution, a prospect that Israeli leadership rejects.

Continuing Discussions and Possible Risks

Detailed negotiations on the stabilisation force mandate, including its command and control, began formally on Thursday in the UN headquarters, and look likely to be protracted – risking the development of a power gap in the strip that may strengthen militant factions.

The United States is suggesting that it lead the force although it will not have a large number of personnel deployed on the terrain. It has already effectively taken control of the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza from a new civil military coordination centre based in the neighboring country.

Force Mandate and Governance Role

The draft American document outlines the purpose of the stabilisation force as “along with the newly trained and vetted law enforcement to help secure border areas, stabilise the security environment in Gaza by guaranteeing the procedure of demilitarising the territory including the elimination and prevention of rebuilding the military terror and offensive infrastructure as well as the lasting removal of arms from non-state armed groups”.

The mission, reporting to a “board of peace” chaired by Donald Trump, and not to the UN, would be mandated to use “any required actions” to fulfill its objectives.

Arab states including Qatar are also concerned that this mandate is too expansive, and if the group is to lay down arms, the group will solely do so to local counterparts, probably in the civilian police force, at a moment that, from the Hamas perspective, signifies the conclusion of Israeli presence.

They also worry the draft mandate extends to giving the mission a administrative function in the territory, a task that was to be reserved for a local expert panel working in conjunction with a reformed Palestinian Authority.

Humanitarian Aspects and Funding Questions

This “interim authority” in Gaza would remain until “the Palestinian Authority has adequately finished its reform program, the approval of which shall be acceptable to the BoP”, the draft says. It also “underscores the importance” of full relief in Gaza, including through the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the humanitarian organizations.

However, it opens the door the removal of “any group found to have improperly used such assistance”. The wording permits the board of peace excluding the UN relief agency, the organization that the international court of justice has said is the legal provider of aid.

International Political Efforts

France and Saudi representatives are already pressing for a mention to a sovereign Palestine to be added in the document. The Saudi leader, Mohammed bin Salman, is scheduled in the US presidential residence on 18 November, and Manal Radwan has said that a reference to a Palestinian state is a prerequisite.

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

Not the UN nor the 15-member security council are assigned a oversight role over the stabilisation force, supervising the execution of the resolution, a aspect mostly ignored by the draft text. No details is outlined about the financing of this stabilisation mission, which, as per the US officials, should be mostly borne by Gulf states, with the Kingdom assuming primary responsibility.

Israel's Demands and Local Developments

Israeli authorities is seeking formal assurances from the United States that it be permitted to emulate the model of the Lebanese situation and retain the authority to re-enter the territory if it considers disarmament is not occurring at a level or pace it requires.

The request was put to the former US advisor, Donald Trump’s relative, and the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff. The advisor was in Jerusalem on this week to review developments on the truce and Witkoff was due to arrive subsequently the that day.

Just the bodies of four of the initial hundreds of captives remain unreturned.

Separately, Israeli officials has been proposing that the Gaza Strip could still be split in two with rebuilding efforts starting in the Israel occupied areas of the region. International officials insist that this is no part of the Trump plan.