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Proposals for an multinational security mission authorized by the United Nations to demilitarize the militant group in Gaza are encountering increasing resistance after the United Arab Emirates announced it would not take part due to the absence of a well-defined legal framework.

Growing International Concerns

Israel have already ruled out Turkish participation, and Jordan's King Abdullah has declared that Jordanian troops will not join. Azerbaijan, once mooted as a possible contributor, was absent from a planning session in Istanbul and said it would not contribute unless a full ceasefire was in place.

Emirati officials lacks clarity on a clear framework for the stabilisation force and under such circumstances will not participate, but will support all diplomatic efforts towards resolution – and remain at the vanguard of relief efforts.

Arab Skepticism and Juridical Issues

The UAE's decision, made by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in the UAE capital, highlights regional reservations about the terms of a American-proposed document already distributed to delegates at the UN in New York. The proposal places an onus on a US-directed security mission to be the principal means of ensuring security in the territory after Israel have left the territory.

Regional governments would like greater duties to be assigned to a distinct local law enforcement agency. International law would also prohibit foreign troops from deploying into contested Palestinian territories unless there was clear Palestinian consent; otherwise, the mission could be seen as imposed under UN law, and potentially stabilising an unlawful presence.

Palestinian Perspectives and Appeals for Definition

Jamal Nusseibeh of the Palestinian armistice plan commented: “It is essential that the force be sent not to reinforce the unlawful presence, but to enforce international law and end it. The force will work as long as it operates in the entire occupied territory, including the occupied territories, at the invitation of the Palestinian authorities, and has a defined goal to end the presence within the context of a sovereign state of Palestine.”

There is no reference to the West Bank in the American proposal, or to a sovereign Palestine, or a peaceful resolution, a outcome that Israel rejects.

Continuing Negotiations and Potential Dangers

In-depth negotiations on the mission authority, including its command and control, started formally on Thursday in New York, and look likely to be protracted – potentially creating the development of a power gap in Gaza that may strengthen militant factions.

The US is suggesting that it command the force although it will not have many personnel deployed on the terrain. It has previously effectively assumed command of the delivery of relief supplies into the territory from a new civil military coordination centre based in the neighboring country.

Mission Mandate and Administrative Function

The proposed US resolution outlines the purpose of the security mission as “along with the recently prepared and vetted law enforcement to assist in protecting border areas, stabilise the security environment in the region by guaranteeing the procedure of disarming the Gaza Strip including the elimination and prevention of rebuilding the military terror and hostile facilities as well as the lasting removal of arms from militant factions”.

The mission, reporting to a “peace council” chaired by the former US president, and not to the United Nations, would be required to use “all necessary measures” to fulfill its goals.

Regional powers including Qatari officials are also worried that this mandate is too expansive, and if Hamas is to lay down arms, the group will solely do so to local counterparts, likely in the civilian police force, at a moment that, from the Hamas perspective, marks the end of occupation.

They also fear the proposed authority extends to granting the stabilisation force a governance function in the territory, a task that was to be reserved for a Palestinian expert panel working in conjunction with a restructured Palestinian Authority.

Aid Aspects and Funding Questions

This “interim authority” in the strip would stay until “the Palestinian Authority has adequately completed its reform program, the satisfaction of which shall be acceptable to the board of peace”, the proposal states. It also “underscores the importance” of unhindered relief in Gaza, including through the UN, the ICRC, and the humanitarian organizations.

Nonetheless, it allows for the exclusion of “any group determined to have misused such aid”. The wording permits the board of peace excluding Unrwa, the body that the global judicial body has said is the legal distributor of assistance.

International Diplomatic Initiatives

French officials and Saudi Arabia are currently pressing for a reference to a sovereign Palestine to be added in the document. 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 Palestinian Authority leader, Mahmoud Abbas, met the French leader, Emmanuel Macron, in the French capital on this week to review the PA role.

Neither the United Nations nor the 15-member security council are assigned a supervisory role over the mission, monitoring the implementation of the resolution, a point largely overlooked by the draft text. No details is outlined about the financing of this security operation, which, as per the US officials, should be mostly covered by Gulf states, with the Kingdom taking the lead.

Israel's Demands and Regional Developments

Israeli authorities is seeking formal assurances from the United States that it be permitted to emulate the model of Lebanon and reserve the right to re-enter the territory if it considers demilitarization is not occurring at a level or speed it requires.

The request was presented to Jared Kushner, the ex-president's son-in-law, and the American diplomat, Steve Witkoff. The advisor was in Jerusalem on Monday to review progress on the ceasefire and the envoy was due to appear subsequently the that day.

Just the remains of four of the initial hundreds of Israeli hostages remain not recovered.

Independently, Israel has been proposing that the Gaza Strip could still be split in two with reconstruction work beginning in the Israeli-controlled areas of the region. Western diplomats maintain that this is no part of the Trump plan.