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Proposals for an multinational security mission authorized by the UN to disarm Hamas in Gaza are encountering growing opposition after the United Arab Emirates announced it would not join due to the absence of a well-defined legal framework.

Increasing Global Reservations

Israel have previously excluded Turkey involvement, and Jordan's King Abdullah has declared that his country's troops will not participate. Azerbaijan, once mooted as a potential participant, was absent from a planning meeting in Turkey and indicated it would not take part unless a full truce was established.

Emirati officials lacks clarity on a clear framework for the stabilisation mission and under such circumstances declines involvement, but will support all political initiatives towards resolution – and stay at the forefront of relief efforts.

Arab Doubts and Legal Concerns

The UAE's announcement, delivered by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in the UAE capital, reflects regional doubts about the terms of a US-drafted document previously distributed to delegates at the UN in New York. The proposal places an onus on a American-led stabilisation force to be the primary means of ensuring security in the territory after Israel have left the territory.

Regional governments would like greater responsibilities to be given to a separate local law enforcement agency. Global jurisprudence would also forbid foreign troops from entering contested Palestinian territories unless there was explicit Palestinian consent; without it, the force could be viewed as coercive under UN law, and arguably reinforcing an unlawful Israeli occupation.

Local Perspectives and Appeals for Definition

Jamal Nusseibeh of the ceasefire proposal said: “It is essential that the force be sent not to reinforce the unlawful presence, but to enforce global standards and end it. The force will work as long as it operates in the whole occupied territory, including the occupied territories, at the invitation of the Palestinian authorities, and has a defined objective to end the presence within the framework of a independent Palestinian state.”

There is no mention to the occupied territories in the US draft resolution, or to a Palestinian state, or a peaceful resolution, a prospect that Israel opposes.

Ongoing Discussions and Possible Dangers

Detailed negotiations on the mission authority, including its command and control, began formally on last week in the UN headquarters, and look likely to be lengthy – potentially creating the development of a power gap in Gaza that may empower Hamas.

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

Force Objectives and Administrative Function

The proposed American document outlines the purpose of the security mission as “together with the newly trained and screened law enforcement to assist in protecting border areas, secure the safety situation in the region by guaranteeing the process of disarming the Gaza Strip including the elimination and blocking of reconstructing the military terror and hostile facilities as well as the permanent removal of arms from militant factions”.

The mission, reporting to a “board of peace” chaired by the former US president, and not to the United Nations, would be required to use “all necessary measures” to fulfill its goals.

Regional powers including Qatari officials are also worried that this mandate is overly broad, and if Hamas is to disarm, the faction will solely do so to local counterparts, likely in the civilian police force, at a time that, from the militant viewpoint, marks the conclusion of occupation.

They also worry the proposed authority extends to granting the mission a administrative role in Gaza, a responsibility that was to be set aside for a Palestinian technocratic committee working in conjunction with a reformed local government.

Aid Considerations and Financial Issues

This “transitional governance administration” in the strip would stay until “the local government has adequately finished its reform program, the approval of which shall be approved to the BoP”, the proposal states. It also “underscores the importance” of full humanitarian aid in Gaza, including through the UN, the ICRC, and the Red Crescent.

However, it allows for the removal of “any organisation determined to have improperly used such aid”. The phrase leaves open the board of peace excluding Unrwa, the body that the global judicial body has ruled is the lawful distributor of assistance.

International Political Initiatives

French officials and Saudi Arabia are currently pressing for a reference to a sovereign Palestine to be added in the resolution. The Saudi leader, Mohammed bin Salman, is due in the US presidential residence 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 Paris on Monday to review the PA role.

Not the United Nations nor the 15 strong UNSC are given a supervisory role over the mission, monitoring the implementation of the resolution, a aspect mostly overlooked by the proposed document. No details is specified about the financing of this security operation, which, as per the Americans, should be largely borne by Gulf states, with the Kingdom assuming primary responsibility.

Israel's Demands and Local Situations

Israeli authorities is requesting formal assurances from the US that it be allowed to follow the pattern of Lebanon and retain the authority to re-enter the territory if it considers disarmament is not occurring 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. The advisor was in Jerusalem on Monday to review progress on the ceasefire and Witkoff was due to arrive later the that day.

Just the remains of four of the original 251 captives are still not recovered.

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