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Proposals for an international security mission authorized by the United Nations to demilitarize Hamas in the Gaza Strip are encountering increasing opposition after the United Arab Emirates stated it would not join due to the absence of a well-defined legal structure.

Increasing International Reservations

Israeli authorities have already excluded Turkey involvement, and Jordan's King Abdullah has stated that his country's forces will not join. Azerbaijan, once mooted as a potential contributor, was absent from a preparatory meeting in Istanbul and said it would not take part unless a full ceasefire was established.

The UAE lacks clarity on a defined structure for the stabilisation force and under such circumstances will not participate, but will support all diplomatic efforts towards resolution – and remain at the forefront of humanitarian aid.

Regional Skepticism and Legal Concerns

The Emirati announcement, made by senior envoy Dr Anwar Gargash at a forum in the UAE capital, reflects Arab reservations about the provisions of a US-drafted resolution already distributed to delegates at the UN in New York. The proposal assigns responsibility on a US-directed security mission to be the primary means of ensuring order in Gaza after Israel have left the region.

Arab states would prefer expanded duties to be assigned to a distinct Palestinian law enforcement agency. Global jurisprudence would also forbid foreign troops from entering contested Palestinian territories unless there was clear local approval; without it, the mission could be seen as imposed under international statutes, and arguably stabilising an unlawful presence.

Local Perspectives and Calls for Clarity

A Palestinian American co-author of the ceasefire proposal said: “It is essential that the force be sent not to stabilise the unlawful presence, but to enforce global standards and end it. The mission will work as long as it enters the entire disputed land, including the West Bank, at the invitation of the Palestinian authorities, and has a defined goal to end the occupation within the context of a sovereign Palestinian state.”

There is no reference to the occupied territories in the American proposal, or to a Palestinian state, or a peaceful resolution, a prospect that Israeli leadership rejects.

Ongoing Discussions and Potential Dangers

Detailed negotiations on the mission mandate, including its command and control, started officially on Thursday in the UN headquarters, and look likely to be lengthy – potentially creating the emergence of a power gap in Gaza that may strengthen Hamas.

The US is suggesting that it command the force although it will not have a large number of troops involved on the terrain. It has previously in effect assumed command of the distribution of humanitarian aid into the territory from a recently established logistical hub based in Israel.

Mission Objectives and Administrative Role

The draft US resolution defines the aim of the stabilisation force as “along with the newly trained and vetted law enforcement to help secure frontier zones, secure the security environment in the region by guaranteeing the procedure of disarming the territory including the elimination and prevention of rebuilding the militant and offensive infrastructure as well as the lasting removal of weapons from militant factions”.

The force, reporting to a “peace council” led by Donald Trump, and not to the United Nations, would be mandated to use “any required actions” to achieve its goals.

Arab states including Qatar are also worried that this mandate is too expansive, and if Hamas is to lay down arms, the faction will solely do so to fellow Palestinians, likely in the local law enforcement, at a time that, from the militant viewpoint, marks the conclusion of occupation.

They also fear the proposed authority extends to giving the mission a administrative function in Gaza, a task that was to be reserved for a Palestinian technocratic committee working in cooperation with a restructured local government.

Aid Aspects and Financial Questions

This “interim authority” in the strip would stay until “the local government has adequately completed its reform program, the satisfaction of which shall be approved to the board of peace”, the proposal says. It also “emphasizes the significance” of full relief in the territory, including through the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the humanitarian organizations.

Nonetheless, it opens the door the exclusion of “any group determined to have misused such assistance”. The wording permits the council excluding Unrwa, the organization that the international court of justice has ruled is the lawful provider of aid.

International Political Efforts

France and Saudi representatives are currently advocating for a reference to a sovereign Palestine to be included in the resolution. The Saudi leader, Mohammed bin Salman, is scheduled in the US presidential residence on 18 November, and Manal Radwan has stated that a reference to a independent Palestine is a prerequisite.

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

Not the United Nations nor the 15 strong security council are assigned a supervisory role over the stabilisation force, supervising the implementation of the proposal, a aspect mostly ignored by the draft text. No details is specified about the financing of this security operation, which, as per the US officials, should be mostly covered by Gulf states, with the Kingdom assuming primary responsibility.

Israel's Requests and Regional Situations

Israel is seeking formal assurances from the US that it be allowed to emulate the pattern of Lebanon and reserve the right to re-enter the territory if it considers demilitarization is not taking place at a level or speed it requires.

The request was put to the former US advisor, the ex-president's relative, and the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff. Kushner was in the Israeli capital on this week to discuss progress on the truce and Witkoff was due to appear subsequently the that day.

Just the bodies of four of the initial 251 captives are still not recovered.

Independently, Israel has been proposing that the territory could still be split in two parts with rebuilding efforts beginning in the Israeli-controlled parts of the region. International officials maintain that this is not part of the Trump plan.