🔗 Share this article

Plans for an international security mission authorized by the United Nations to demilitarize the militant group in Gaza are encountering growing opposition after the United Arab Emirates announced it would not join due to the lack of a clear legal framework.

Growing Global Concerns

Israeli authorities have previously ruled out Turkish involvement, and the Jordanian King Abdullah has declared that his country's troops will not join. The Azerbaijani government, previously considered as a possible participant, did not attend a planning session in Istanbul and said it would not contribute unless a complete truce was established.

Emirati officials does not yet see a clear structure for the stability force and in this situation will not participate, but backs all diplomatic efforts towards peace – and remain at the forefront of humanitarian aid.

Arab Skepticism and Legal Concerns

The Emirati decision, delivered by senior envoy Dr Anwar Gargash at a forum in Abu Dhabi, highlights regional doubts about the terms of a American-proposed document already circulated to diplomats at the UN in NYC. The draft places an onus on a American-led stabilisation force to be the primary means of ensuring order in the territory after Israeli forces have left the region.

Regional governments would like expanded responsibilities to be given to a separate local law enforcement agency. Global jurisprudence would also prohibit external forces from entering contested Palestinian territories unless there was clear local approval; otherwise, the mission could be viewed as imposed under international statutes, and potentially reinforcing an illegal presence.

Palestinian Viewpoints and Calls for Definition

A Palestinian American co-author of the ceasefire proposal commented: “It is critical that the mission be deployed not to reinforce the unlawful Israeli occupation, but to enforce global standards and end it. The mission will work as long as it operates in the entire occupied territory, including the occupied territories, at the request of the Palestinian authorities, and has a clear objective to conclude the occupation within the context of a independent state of Palestine.”

There is no mention to the West Bank in the US draft resolution, or to a sovereign Palestine, or a peaceful resolution, a outcome that Israeli leadership rejects.

Continuing Discussions and Potential Dangers

In-depth talks on the stabilisation force authority, including its leadership structure, started officially on Thursday in the UN headquarters, and appear to be lengthy – risking the emergence of a vacuum in Gaza that may strengthen militant factions.

The US is suggesting that it command the force although it will not have many troops deployed on the ground. It has previously in effect assumed command of the delivery of humanitarian aid into the territory from a recently established logistical hub based in Israel.

Mission Objectives and Governance Function

The proposed American document defines the purpose of the stabilisation force as “along with the newly trained and screened police force to assist in protecting border areas, secure the security environment in Gaza by ensuring the process of demilitarising the Gaza Strip including the elimination and prevention of rebuilding the militant and hostile facilities as well as the lasting decommissioning of weapons from non-state armed groups”.

The force, answerable to a “board of peace” led by Donald Trump, and not to the UN, would be required to use “any required actions” to achieve its goals.

Arab states including Qatar are also worried that this mandate is overly broad, and if the group is to lay down arms, the faction will solely do so to fellow Palestinians, likely in the civilian police force, at a moment that, from the militant perspective, signifies the conclusion of occupation.

They also fear the draft mandate extends to giving the stabilisation force a administrative role in Gaza, a task that was to be reserved for a local expert panel working in conjunction with a reformed Palestinian Authority.

Aid Aspects and Funding Issues

This “transitional governance administration” in the strip would remain until “the local government has adequately completed its restructuring plan, the approval of which shall be acceptable to the BoP”, the proposal states. It also “emphasizes the importance” of unhindered humanitarian aid in the territory, including through the UN, the ICRC, and the Red Crescent.

However, it allows for the removal of “any organisation determined to have misused such assistance”. The wording permits the board of peace barring the UN relief agency, the organization that the international court of justice has ruled is the legal provider of assistance.

International Diplomatic Initiatives

French officials and Saudi Arabia are already pressing for a mention to a Palestinian state 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 independent Palestine is a prerequisite.

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

Neither the United Nations nor the 15 strong security council are assigned a oversight function over the mission, supervising the implementation of the resolution, a point largely overlooked by the proposed document. Nothing is specified about the financing of this stabilisation mission, which, as per the Americans, should be largely covered by Gulf states, with the Kingdom taking the lead.

Israeli Demands and Regional Developments

Israeli authorities is requesting formal assurances from the US that it be allowed to emulate the model of the Lebanese situation and reserve the authority 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, Donald Trump’s relative, and the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff. Kushner was in the Israeli capital on this week to review progress on the ceasefire and Witkoff was scheduled to appear later the same day.

Only the remains of a small number of the initial hundreds of captives are still not recovered.

Separately, Israeli officials has been suggesting that the Gaza Strip could yet be divided in two parts with reconstruction work starting in the Israeli-controlled parts of the region. Western diplomats insist that this is not part of the Trump plan.