🔗 Share this article

Plans for an multinational security mission authorized by the United Nations to demilitarize Hamas in Gaza are facing growing resistance after the United Arab Emirates announced it would not take part due to the lack of a clear legal framework.

Increasing Global Reservations

Israeli authorities have previously ruled out Turkish involvement, and the Jordanian King Abdullah has stated that Jordanian forces will not participate. Azerbaijan, once considered as a possible participant, was absent from a preparatory session in Istanbul and indicated it would not contribute unless a complete truce was established.

The UAE lacks clarity on a defined framework for the stability mission and under such circumstances declines involvement, but will support all diplomatic efforts towards resolution – and remain at the forefront of humanitarian aid.

Regional Skepticism and Juridical Concerns

The UAE's decision, made by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a forum in Abu Dhabi, reflects Arab doubts about the provisions of a American-proposed resolution previously distributed 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on a American-led stabilisation force to be the primary means of ensuring security in the territory after Israel have withdrawn from the territory.

Arab states would prefer greater responsibilities to be assigned to a distinct local law enforcement agency. International law would also prohibit foreign troops from entering occupied Palestine unless there was explicit Palestinian consent; without it, the force could be seen as coercive under international statutes, and arguably stabilising an unlawful presence.

Local Viewpoints and Appeals for Clarity

Jamal Nusseibeh of the ceasefire proposal commented: “It is critical that the force be deployed not to stabilise the unlawful presence, but to uphold international law and terminate it. The force will succeed as long as it enters the entire occupied territory, including the occupied territories, at the request of Palestine, and has a defined objective to end the presence within the framework of a independent state of Palestine.”

The draft contains no reference 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 Risks

In-depth talks on the stabilisation force mandate, including its leadership structure, started formally on Thursday in the UN headquarters, and appear to be protracted – risking 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 a large number of personnel involved on the ground. It has previously in effect assumed command of the distribution of relief supplies into Gaza from a recently established logistical hub based in Israel.

Force Objectives and Governance Function

The draft American document outlines the purpose of the security mission as “together with the recently prepared and vetted police force to assist in protecting border areas, stabilise the security environment in Gaza by ensuring the procedure of disarming the Gaza Strip including the destruction and blocking of rebuilding the militant and offensive infrastructure as well as the permanent decommissioning of arms from non-state armed groups”.

The mission, reporting to a “peace council” chaired by the former US president, and not to the United Nations, would be required to use “any required actions” to fulfill its goals.

Regional powers including Qatari officials are also worried that this authority is overly broad, and if Hamas is to lay down arms, the group will only do so to local counterparts, likely in the civilian police force, at a moment that, from the Hamas perspective, signifies the end of Israeli presence.

They also worry the draft mandate spills into granting 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 local government.

Humanitarian Aspects and Funding Questions

This “transitional governance administration” in Gaza would remain until “the Palestinian Authority has satisfactorily completed its reform program, the satisfaction of which shall be approved to the board of peace”, the draft states. It also “emphasizes the importance” of full humanitarian aid in the territory, including through the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Red Crescent.

However, it opens the door the removal of “any group determined to have improperly used such aid”. The phrase permits the board of peace excluding Unrwa, the organization that the international court of justice has ruled is the legal distributor of aid.

International Diplomatic Initiatives

French officials and Saudi representatives are currently advocating for a mention to a sovereign Palestine to be added in the resolution. The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is due in the US presidential residence on the specified date, and a Saudi foreign ministry official has said that a mention to a independent Palestine is a requirement.

The PA chair, Mahmoud Abbas, met the French leader, Emmanuel Macron, in Paris on this week to review the PA role.

Not the United Nations nor the 15-member security council are assigned a supervisory function over the stabilisation force, monitoring the implementation of the proposal, a point largely ignored by the proposed document. No details is outlined about the funding of this security operation, which, as per the Americans, should be largely covered by Gulf states, with Saudi Arabia taking the lead.

Israeli Demands and Local Situations

Israeli authorities is seeking formal assurances from the United States that it be allowed to emulate the pattern of Lebanon and retain the right to return to the territory if it believes demilitarization is not occurring at a level or speed it demands.

The Israeli proposal was put to the former US advisor, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, and the American diplomat, Steve Witkoff. The advisor was in Jerusalem on Monday to discuss progress on the ceasefire and Witkoff was due to appear later the same day.

Only the remains of four of the initial 251 captives are still unreturned.

Separately, Israel has been suggesting that the territory could yet be split in two with rebuilding efforts beginning in the Israeli-controlled parts of the region. Western diplomats maintain that this is not part of the former US administration's proposal.