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Plans for an international security mission authorized by the UN to disarm Hamas in Gaza are facing growing opposition after the United Arab Emirates stated it will not join due to the lack of a clear legal structure.

Growing International Concerns

Israel have already ruled out Turkey participation, and Jordan's King Abdullah has stated that his country's troops will not join. The Azerbaijani government, previously considered as a potential contributor, was absent from a planning meeting in Istanbul and said it would not contribute unless a full truce was in place.

The UAE does not yet see a defined framework for the stability force and under such circumstances will not participate, but backs all diplomatic initiatives towards resolution – and remain at the vanguard of relief efforts.

Regional Skepticism and Legal Issues

The UAE's decision, made by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in the UAE capital, reflects regional doubts about the terms of a American-proposed document already distributed to diplomats at the UN in NYC. The draft places an onus on a American-led security mission to be the principal means of imposing order in the territory after Israel have withdrawn from the territory.

Regional governments would prefer greater responsibilities to be given to a distinct Palestinian law enforcement agency. Global jurisprudence would also prohibit foreign troops from deploying into contested Palestine unless there was explicit local approval; without it, the mission could be seen as coercive under international statutes, and arguably reinforcing an illegal presence.

Palestinian Viewpoints and Calls for Definition

Jamal Nusseibeh of the ceasefire proposal said: “It is essential that the mission be sent not to reinforce the unlawful Israeli occupation, but to enforce global standards and terminate it. The force will work as long as it operates in the entire occupied territory, including the West Bank, at the request of the Palestinian authorities, and has a clear goal to conclude the occupation within the context of a independent Palestinian state.”

There is no reference to the occupied territories in the US draft resolution, or to a Palestinian state, or a peaceful resolution, a outcome that Israel rejects.

Ongoing Discussions and Possible Dangers

In-depth negotiations on the mission authority, including its leadership structure, started formally on Thursday in the UN headquarters, and appear to be protracted – potentially creating the development of a power gap in the strip that may empower Hamas.

The US is suggesting that it command the mission although it will not have a large number of troops involved on the terrain. It has previously effectively taken control of the distribution of relief supplies into the territory from a new civil military coordination centre based in Israel.

Force Objectives and Governance Role

The draft American document outlines the aim of the stabilisation force as “along with the newly trained and vetted law enforcement to help secure frontier zones, secure the security environment in Gaza by ensuring the process of disarming the Gaza Strip including the destruction and blocking of rebuilding the military terror and offensive infrastructure as well as the permanent removal of weapons from militant factions”.

The mission, answerable to a “peace council” led by Donald Trump, and not to the UN, would be mandated to use “any required actions” to fulfill its goals.

Regional powers including Qatar are also concerned that this authority is overly broad, and if Hamas is to lay down arms, the faction will only do so to local counterparts, probably in the local law enforcement, at a moment that, from the militant viewpoint, signifies the end of occupation.

They also fear the draft mandate extends to granting the mission a administrative role in Gaza, a task that was to be reserved for a Palestinian technocratic committee working in conjunction with a reformed Palestinian Authority.

Aid Aspects and Financial Questions

This “transitional governance administration” in the strip would remain until “the Palestinian Authority has adequately finished its restructuring plan, the satisfaction of which shall be approved to the BoP”, the draft says. It also “underscores the significance” of full relief in Gaza, including through the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the humanitarian organizations.

Nonetheless, it allows for the removal of “any organisation found to have misused such aid”. The phrase leaves open the council barring the UN relief agency, the body that the global judicial body has ruled is the legal provider of assistance.

Global Diplomatic Initiatives

France and Saudi representatives are currently pressing for a reference 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 Manal Radwan has stated that a reference to a Palestinian state is a requirement.

The Palestinian Authority leader, Mahmoud Abbas, met the French president, Emmanuel Macron, in the French capital on Monday to review the authority's function.

Not the UN nor the 15 strong security council are given a oversight function over the mission, supervising the execution of the resolution, a point largely ignored by the proposed document. No details is specified about the funding of this security operation, which, as per the US officials, should be largely borne by Gulf states, with the Kingdom taking the lead.

Israel's Demands and Local Developments

Israeli authorities is requesting formal assurances from the US that it be permitted to emulate the pattern of Lebanon and retain the authority to return to Gaza if it believes disarmament is not occurring at a scale 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 the Israeli capital on this week to discuss progress on the ceasefire and the envoy was due to appear later the that day.

Just the remains of four of the original 251 Israeli hostages are still unreturned.

Separately, Israel has been suggesting that the Gaza Strip could still be split in two parts with reconstruction work starting in the Israeli-controlled areas of the strip. Western diplomats insist that this is not part of the Trump plan.