🔗 Share this article United Arab Emirates Refuses to Join Gazan Security Force Without Defined Legal Framework Proposals for an multinational security mission mandated by the UN to demilitarize the militant group in Gaza are encountering growing opposition after the United Arab Emirates stated it will not take part due to the absence of a well-defined legal framework. Growing International Reservations Israeli authorities have already excluded Turkey participation, and the Jordanian King Abdullah has stated that Jordanian troops will not participate. Azerbaijan, previously considered as a potential participant, did not attend a preparatory session in Turkey and said it would not take part unless a full truce was established. Emirati officials does not yet see a clear structure for the stabilisation mission and in this situation will not participate, but will support all political initiatives towards peace – and stay at the forefront of humanitarian aid. Arab Skepticism and Juridical Issues The Emirati announcement, made by diplomatic representative Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in the UAE capital, reflects regional reservations about the provisions of a US-drafted resolution already distributed to diplomats at the UN in NYC. The proposal assigns responsibility on a American-led stabilisation force to be the principal means of imposing order in Gaza after Israeli forces have left the territory. Regional governments would like expanded responsibilities to be given to a distinct local law enforcement agency. International law would also prohibit foreign troops from deploying into occupied Palestinian territories unless there was explicit local approval; otherwise, the mission could be seen as coercive under UN law, and arguably stabilising an illegal Israeli occupation. Local Perspectives and Appeals for Definition Jamal Nusseibeh of the Palestinian armistice plan said: “It is essential that the mission be sent not to stabilise the illegal Israeli occupation, but to enforce global standards and terminate it. The force will succeed as long as it enters the entire disputed land, including the occupied territories, at the request of the Palestinian authorities, and has a clear goal to conclude the occupation within the framework of a independent Palestinian state.” There is no reference to the occupied territories in the US draft resolution, or to a sovereign Palestine, or a peaceful resolution, a prospect that Israel opposes. Continuing Negotiations and Possible Dangers In-depth talks on the stabilisation force mandate, including its leadership structure, began formally on last week in New York, and look likely to be lengthy – risking the emergence of a power gap in Gaza that may strengthen Hamas. The US is proposing that it command the force although it will not have many personnel deployed on the ground. It has already effectively taken control of the distribution of humanitarian aid into the territory from a recently established logistical hub based in Israel. Mission Mandate and Governance Role The draft US resolution outlines the aim of the stabilisation force as “together with the recently prepared and vetted law enforcement to help secure frontier zones, secure the security environment in Gaza by ensuring the procedure of disarming the Gaza Strip including the destruction and blocking of reconstructing the military terror and offensive infrastructure as well as the permanent decommissioning of arms from non-state armed groups”. The force, reporting to a “board of peace” led by the former US president, and not to the United Nations, would be required to use “any required actions” to achieve 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 fellow Palestinians, likely in the local law enforcement, at a moment that, from the militant viewpoint, marks the conclusion of occupation. They also worry the draft mandate extends to giving the mission a administrative role in the territory, a task that was to be set aside for a Palestinian expert panel working in conjunction with a restructured local government. Aid Aspects and Funding Questions This “interim authority” in the strip would stay until “the Palestinian Authority has adequately completed its reform program, the satisfaction of which shall be acceptable to the board of peace”, the proposal states. It also “underscores the significance” of full humanitarian aid in the territory, including through the UN, the ICRC, and the humanitarian organizations. However, it opens the door the removal of “any group found to have improperly used such assistance”. The phrase leaves open the board of peace excluding Unrwa, the body that the global judicial body has ruled is the legal provider of assistance. International Diplomatic Initiatives French officials and Saudi representatives are already pressing 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 18 November, and Manal Radwan has said that a mention to a independent Palestine is a requirement. The PA chair, Mahmoud Abbas, met the French president, Emmanuel Macron, in the French capital on this week to review the authority's function. Not the United Nations nor the 15-member security council are given a supervisory function over the mission, monitoring the implementation of the resolution, a aspect largely ignored by the proposed document. No details is specified about the financing of this stabilisation mission, which, according to the US officials, should be largely covered by regional nations, with Saudi Arabia assuming primary responsibility. Israel's Requests and Regional Developments Israeli authorities is requesting formal assurances from the US that it be allowed to emulate the model of the Lebanese situation and reserve the authority to re-enter the territory if it believes demilitarization is not taking place at a level or pace it requires. The request was presented to Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s relative, and the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff. Kushner was in Jerusalem on Monday to discuss progress on the ceasefire and Witkoff was due to arrive subsequently the that day. Only the bodies of a small number of the initial hundreds of captives remain unreturned. Separately, Israel has been proposing that the Gaza Strip could yet be divided in two with reconstruction work starting in the Israel occupied parts of the strip. International officials insist that this is no part of the Trump plan.