United Arab Emirates Refuses to Join Gaza Security Mission Lacking Defined Legal Framework

Proposals for an international stabilisation force authorized by the UN to disarm the militant group in Gaza are facing increasing resistance after the UAE stated it will not take part due to the absence of a clear legal structure.

Increasing International Reservations

Israel have already ruled out Turkey participation, and Jordan's King Abdullah has declared that Jordanian forces will not join. Azerbaijan, previously considered as a potential participant, was absent from a preparatory session in Istanbul and indicated it would not take part unless a complete truce was established.

The UAE does not yet see a clear framework for the stabilisation mission and under such circumstances declines involvement, but backs all political initiatives towards resolution – and remain at the vanguard of humanitarian aid.

Regional Doubts and Juridical Issues

The UAE's decision, delivered by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a forum in the UAE capital, highlights regional reservations about the terms of a American-proposed document already distributed to delegates at the UN in NYC. The draft places an onus on a US-directed stabilisation force to be the primary means of ensuring security in Gaza after Israel have left the territory.

Arab states would prefer greater responsibilities to be given to a separate Palestinian law enforcement agency. International law would also forbid foreign troops from deploying into contested Palestinian territories unless there was explicit local approval; without it, the mission could be viewed as coercive under UN law, and potentially reinforcing an unlawful Israeli occupation.

Palestinian Perspectives and Appeals for Clarity

A Palestinian American co-author of the Palestinian armistice plan commented: “It is critical that the mission be deployed not to stabilise the unlawful presence, but to uphold international law and terminate it. The mission will work as long as it enters the whole occupied territory, including the West Bank, at the invitation of Palestine, and has a clear goal to end the occupation within the framework of a sovereign state of Palestine.”

There is no mention to the West Bank in the American proposal, or to a Palestinian state, or a peaceful resolution, a prospect that Israeli leadership opposes.

Continuing Negotiations and Potential Dangers

Detailed negotiations on the stabilisation force authority, including its leadership structure, started formally on Thursday in New York, and appear to be lengthy – risking the emergence of a power gap in the strip that may strengthen militant factions.

The US is suggesting that it command the force although it will not have a large number of troops deployed on the ground. It has previously in effect taken control of the distribution of humanitarian aid into the territory from a recently established civil military coordination centre based in Israel.

Mission Objectives and Administrative Role

The draft US resolution outlines the purpose of the stabilisation force as “together with the recently prepared and screened police force to assist in protecting border areas, stabilise the safety situation in Gaza by ensuring the procedure of demilitarising the Gaza Strip including the destruction and blocking of rebuilding the militant and offensive infrastructure as well as the permanent removal of arms from militant factions”.

The force, reporting to a “peace council” chaired by Donald Trump, and not to the UN, would be required to use “all necessary measures” to fulfill its objectives.

Arab states including Qatari officials are also concerned 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 time that, from the Hamas viewpoint, marks the end of Israeli presence.

They also worry the proposed authority spills into giving the mission a administrative role in Gaza, a task that was to be set aside for a Palestinian expert panel working in conjunction with a restructured Palestinian Authority.

Humanitarian Considerations and Funding Issues

This “interim authority” in the strip would remain until “the Palestinian Authority has adequately completed its restructuring plan, the approval of which shall be acceptable to the board of peace”, the draft says. It also “emphasizes the importance” of unhindered humanitarian aid in Gaza, including through the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the humanitarian organizations.

However, it opens the door the removal of “any organisation found to have improperly used such assistance”. The wording permits the board of peace excluding Unrwa, the organization that the international court of justice has said is the lawful distributor of assistance.

Global Political Initiatives

French officials and Saudi Arabia are currently advocating for a mention to a Palestinian state to be added in the document. The Saudi leader, Mohammed bin Salman, is scheduled in the White House on the specified date, and a Saudi foreign ministry official has said that a reference to a independent Palestine is a prerequisite.

The Palestinian Authority leader, Mahmoud Abbas, held talks with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, in the French capital on Monday to discuss the authority's function.

Neither the United Nations nor the 15 strong security council are assigned a supervisory function over the stabilisation force, monitoring the implementation of the proposal, a point mostly ignored by the draft text. No details is specified about the funding of this stabilisation mission, which, according to the Americans, should be mostly covered by regional nations, with the Kingdom taking the lead.

Israeli Requests and Local Situations

Israel is requesting formal assurances from the US that it be allowed to emulate the pattern of Lebanon and retain the authority to return to Gaza if it considers disarmament is not occurring at a level or pace 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 Jerusalem on this week to discuss developments on the truce and Witkoff was scheduled to appear subsequently the that day.

Only the remains of four of the initial 251 Israeli hostages remain unreturned.

Separately, Israel has been proposing that the Gaza Strip could still be divided in two with rebuilding efforts beginning in the Israeli-controlled parts of the region. Western diplomats insist that this is no part of the former US administration's proposal.