🔗 Share this article United Arab Emirates Refuses to Participate in Gazan Security Mission Lacking Clear Juridical Structure Proposals for an multinational security mission authorized by the United Nations to demilitarize Hamas in the Gaza Strip are facing increasing opposition after the UAE announced it would not take part due to the lack of a well-defined legal structure. Increasing Global Concerns Israel have already ruled out Turkey involvement, and Jordan's King Abdullah has declared that Jordanian troops will not participate. The Azerbaijani government, previously considered as a possible contributor, did not attend a preparatory session in Turkey and said it would not take part unless a full truce was in place. The UAE lacks clarity on a defined framework for the stabilisation force and under such circumstances will not participate, but backs all diplomatic initiatives towards peace – and remain at the vanguard of humanitarian aid. Arab Doubts and Legal Issues The UAE's announcement, delivered by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a forum in the UAE capital, reflects Arab reservations about the provisions of a American-proposed resolution previously circulated to delegates at the UN in New York. The draft places an onus on a American-led security mission to be the principal means of ensuring order in the territory after Israeli forces have left the region. Arab states would like greater responsibilities to be given to a distinct local civilian police force. International law would also prohibit foreign troops from entering occupied Palestine unless there was explicit Palestinian consent; otherwise, the force could be seen as imposed under international statutes, and potentially stabilising an unlawful Israeli occupation. Palestinian Perspectives and Calls for Clarity A Palestinian American co-author of the ceasefire proposal said: “It is critical that the force be sent not to reinforce the unlawful presence, but to uphold international law and terminate it. The mission will succeed as long as it enters the whole disputed land, including the West Bank, at the invitation of the Palestinian authorities, and has a defined goal to conclude the occupation within the framework of a independent state of Palestine.” There is no reference to the occupied territories in the US draft resolution, or to a sovereign Palestine, or a peaceful resolution, a outcome that Israeli leadership rejects. Continuing Negotiations and Possible Risks In-depth negotiations on the mission authority, including its command and control, started officially on last week in the UN headquarters, and look likely to be lengthy – potentially creating the development of a vacuum in the strip that may strengthen militant factions. The US is suggesting that it lead the force although it will not have many personnel deployed on the ground. It has already in effect assumed command of the distribution of humanitarian aid into the territory from a new civil military coordination centre based in the neighboring country. Force Mandate and Governance Function The proposed US resolution defines the purpose of the stabilisation force as “along with the recently prepared and vetted law enforcement to assist in protecting frontier zones, stabilise the safety situation in the region by ensuring the process of disarming the Gaza Strip including the destruction and blocking of reconstructing the militant and offensive infrastructure as well as the permanent removal of weapons from non-state armed groups”. The force, reporting to a “peace council” chaired by the former US president, and not to the UN, would be required to use “any required actions” to fulfill its objectives. Regional powers including Qatari officials are also concerned that this mandate is too expansive, and if Hamas is to disarm, the group will solely do so to fellow Palestinians, probably in the local law enforcement, at a time that, from the militant perspective, marks the conclusion of Israeli presence. They also worry the draft mandate spills into granting the stabilisation force a administrative role in the territory, a task that was to be reserved for a local technocratic committee working in conjunction with a reformed Palestinian Authority. Humanitarian Aspects and Financial Issues This “transitional governance administration” in the strip would remain until “the Palestinian Authority has adequately completed its reform program, the satisfaction of which shall be acceptable to the board of peace”, the draft states. It also “emphasizes the significance” of full relief in the territory, 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 determined to have improperly used such aid”. The wording permits the board of peace excluding the UN relief agency, the body that the global judicial body has said is the lawful provider of aid. Global Political Efforts France and Saudi Arabia are currently advocating for a mention to a Palestinian state to be included in the document. The Saudi leader, Mohammed bin Salman, is scheduled 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 Palestinian Authority leader, Mahmoud Abbas, held talks with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, in Paris on this week to review the PA role. Not the United Nations nor the 15-member security council are given a supervisory function over the mission, supervising the implementation of the resolution, a point largely ignored by the draft text. No details is specified about the funding of this security operation, which, as per the Americans, should be largely covered by regional nations, with the Kingdom assuming primary responsibility. Israeli Demands and Regional Situations Israeli authorities is requesting formal assurances from the United States that it be permitted to emulate the model of the Lebanese situation and reserve the authority to re-enter Gaza if it believes disarmament 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. Kushner was in Jerusalem on this week to review progress on the truce and Witkoff was scheduled to arrive later the that day. Just the remains of four of the initial 251 Israeli hostages are still not recovered. Separately, Israel has been suggesting that the Gaza Strip could still be split in two parts with rebuilding efforts beginning in the Israeli-controlled areas of the region. Western diplomats insist that this is not part of the Trump plan.