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Plans for an multinational stabilisation force authorized by the UN to demilitarize Hamas in Gaza are facing growing resistance after the UAE announced it will not join due to the absence of a clear legal structure.

Increasing International Reservations

Israel have previously excluded Turkey participation, and the Jordanian King Abdullah has stated that his country's forces will not participate. Azerbaijan, previously considered as a possible contributor, was absent from a preparatory meeting in Turkey and said it would not contribute unless a complete truce was in place.

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

Regional Skepticism and Legal Issues

The UAE's decision, delivered by senior envoy Dr Anwar Gargash at a forum in the UAE capital, highlights regional reservations about the provisions of a US-drafted resolution previously circulated to delegates at the UN in New York. The draft places an onus on a American-led stabilisation force to be the principal means of imposing security in the territory after Israel have left the territory.

Arab states would prefer expanded responsibilities to be given to a distinct local law enforcement agency. Global jurisprudence would also prohibit foreign troops from entering occupied Palestinian territories unless there was clear Palestinian consent; without it, the mission could be seen as coercive under international statutes, and arguably reinforcing an illegal Israeli occupation.

Local Perspectives and Appeals for Definition

A Palestinian American co-author of the ceasefire proposal said: “It is essential that the force be sent not to reinforce the illegal Israeli occupation, but to enforce global standards and terminate it. The force will work as long as it enters the whole disputed land, including the occupied territories, at the invitation of Palestine, and has a defined goal to end the occupation within the context of a sovereign state of Palestine.”

The draft contains no reference to the occupied territories in the American proposal, or to a sovereign Palestine, or a two-state solution, a outcome that Israeli leadership rejects.

Ongoing Negotiations and Possible Dangers

Detailed talks on the stabilisation force mandate, including its command and control, started officially on Thursday in New York, and look likely to be protracted – potentially creating the emergence of a vacuum in Gaza that may empower Hamas.

The US is suggesting that it lead the force although it will not have a large number of troops deployed on the terrain. It has previously in effect taken control of the delivery of relief supplies into Gaza from a recently established civil military coordination centre based in the neighboring country.

Mission Objectives and Administrative Role

The proposed American document outlines the aim of the security mission as “together with the newly trained and screened police force to help secure frontier zones, stabilise the safety situation in Gaza by ensuring the process of demilitarising the Gaza Strip including the elimination and blocking of reconstructing the militant and hostile facilities as well as the permanent removal of weapons from militant factions”.

The mission, reporting to a “peace council” led by the former US president, and not to the United Nations, would be mandated to use “any required actions” to achieve its objectives.

Regional powers including Qatar are also concerned that this authority is overly broad, and if the group is to disarm, the faction will only do so to fellow Palestinians, likely in the civilian police force, at a moment that, from the Hamas viewpoint, marks the conclusion of Israeli presence.

They also worry the draft mandate extends to granting the stabilisation force a governance function in Gaza, a responsibility that was to be reserved for a Palestinian technocratic committee working in cooperation with a reformed local government.

Humanitarian Aspects and Funding Issues

This “interim authority” in the strip would remain until “the local government has adequately completed its restructuring plan, the satisfaction of which shall be acceptable to the BoP”, the draft says. It also “emphasizes the significance” of full relief in the territory, including through the United Nations, the ICRC, and the humanitarian organizations.

Nonetheless, it allows for the removal of “any organisation found to have improperly used such assistance”. The phrase leaves open the council excluding Unrwa, the organization that the global judicial body has said is the lawful distributor of aid.

International Political Efforts

France and Saudi representatives are already advocating 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 mention to a Palestinian state is a prerequisite.

The Palestinian Authority leader, 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 strong security council are assigned a oversight role over the stabilisation force, monitoring the execution of the proposal, a aspect largely overlooked by the draft text. No details is specified about the financing of this security operation, which, as per the Americans, should be largely borne by regional nations, with Saudi Arabia assuming primary responsibility.

Israel's Demands and Local Situations

Israeli authorities is seeking written guarantees from the US that it be allowed to emulate the model of the Lebanese situation and retain the authority to return to Gaza if it considers demilitarization is not taking place at a level or speed it requires.

The Israeli proposal was put to Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, and the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff. The advisor was in the Israeli capital on this week to review progress on the truce and the envoy was due to appear later the that day.

Just the remains of four of the original hundreds of Israeli hostages are still unreturned.

Separately, Israel has been proposing that the territory could yet be split in two with rebuilding efforts beginning in the Israeli-controlled parts of the strip. Western diplomats maintain that this is no part of the Trump plan.