🔗 Share this article

Proposals for an multinational stabilisation force authorized by the United Nations to disarm Hamas in the Gaza Strip are facing growing resistance after the United Arab Emirates announced it would not join due to the lack of a clear legal structure.

Growing Global Reservations

Israeli authorities have already excluded Turkey participation, and the Jordanian King Abdullah has stated that Jordanian troops will not participate. The Azerbaijani government, previously mooted as a possible contributor, did not attend a preparatory session in Istanbul and indicated it would not take part unless a complete ceasefire was established.

The UAE lacks clarity on a clear structure for the stabilisation force and in this situation declines involvement, but backs all political initiatives towards peace – and stay at the forefront of relief efforts.

Regional Skepticism and Legal Issues

The UAE's decision, made by senior envoy Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in the UAE capital, reflects regional reservations about the provisions of a US-drafted resolution previously circulated to delegates at the UN in NYC. The draft places an onus on a American-led security mission to be the primary means of imposing security in Gaza after Israeli forces have withdrawn from the region.

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

Palestinian Perspectives and Calls for Clarity

A Palestinian American co-author of the Palestinian armistice plan commented: “It is essential that the mission be deployed not to stabilise the unlawful presence, but to enforce global standards and terminate it. The force will succeed as long as it enters the entire occupied territory, including the occupied territories, at the request of the Palestinian authorities, and has a defined objective 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 Israel opposes.

Ongoing Discussions and Possible Dangers

In-depth talks on the mission mandate, including its leadership structure, started officially on Thursday in the UN headquarters, and appear to be lengthy – potentially creating the development of a power gap in the strip that may empower Hamas.

The US is suggesting that it command the force although it will not have many troops deployed on the terrain. It has previously in effect taken control of the delivery of relief supplies into Gaza from a new civil military coordination centre based in Israel.

Mission Mandate and Governance Role

The proposed American document outlines the aim of the security mission as “along with the recently prepared and screened police force to help secure border areas, secure the security environment in Gaza by guaranteeing the procedure of demilitarising the territory including the destruction and prevention of rebuilding the military terror and hostile facilities as well as the permanent decommissioning of weapons from non-state armed groups”.

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

Arab states including Qatar are also concerned that this mandate is overly broad, 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 perspective, marks the end of Israeli presence.

They also fear the proposed authority spills into giving the stabilisation force a administrative function in Gaza, a responsibility that was to be set aside for a Palestinian expert panel working in conjunction with a reformed Palestinian Authority.

Humanitarian Aspects and Funding Questions

This “interim authority” in Gaza would stay until “the Palestinian Authority has satisfactorily completed its restructuring plan, the satisfaction of which shall be approved to the board of peace”, the draft says. It also “emphasizes the importance” of full relief in the territory, including through the United Nations, the ICRC, and the Red Crescent.

However, it opens the door the exclusion of “any group determined to have improperly used such aid”. The wording permits the board of peace excluding Unrwa, the body that the international court of justice has ruled is the lawful distributor of assistance.

Global Diplomatic Efforts

French officials and Saudi representatives are currently pressing for a mention to a sovereign Palestine to be included in the resolution. The Saudi leader, Mohammed bin Salman, is due in the White House on 18 November, and Manal Radwan has stated that a mention to a Palestinian state is a prerequisite.

The Palestinian Authority leader, Mahmoud Abbas, held talks with the French leader, Emmanuel Macron, in the French capital on Monday to review the PA role.

Neither the United Nations nor the 15 strong security council are given a oversight role over the mission, supervising the execution of the proposal, a aspect largely ignored by the draft text. No details is specified about the funding of this security operation, which, according to the US officials, should be mostly borne by regional nations, with the Kingdom assuming primary responsibility.

Israel's Demands and Regional Situations

Israeli authorities is requesting formal assurances from the United States that it be allowed to follow the model of Lebanon and retain the right to re-enter Gaza if it believes disarmament is not taking place at a scale or speed it demands.

The Israeli proposal was put to the former US advisor, the ex-president's relative, and the American diplomat, Steve Witkoff. Kushner was in the Israeli capital on Monday to review developments on the truce and Witkoff was scheduled to arrive subsequently the that day.

Only the remains of four of the original hundreds of captives remain not recovered.

Separately, Israel has been proposing that the territory could yet be split in two parts with rebuilding efforts starting in the Israel occupied parts of the region. International officials insist that this is not part of the former US administration's proposal.