UAE, Azerbaijan, and Turkey Decline Joining US-Led Gaza Stabilisation Force

United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Turkey, and Azerbaijan have opted out of participating in the US-led Gaza stabilisation force, expressing concerns over the unclear legal framework and the absence of references to the Palestinian state in the UN draft. The UAE specifically mentioned that it did not perceive a clear legal framework for the force and decided not to participate. The decision echoes doubts among Arab nations regarding the terms of the US-drafted resolution, as revealed by envoy Dr. Anwar Gargash during a conference in Abu Dhabi. While the US proposal involves the establishment of a stabilisation force to ensure security in Gaza after Israel’s withdrawal, it lacks acknowledgment of the West Bank, Palestinian state, or a two-state solution. Despite the US leading the proposed force, it plans to have minimal troops on the ground, with the force being accountable to a ‘board of peace’ chaired by Donald Trump instead of the UN. The resolution describes the force’s role as securing border areas, demilitarising Gaza, and decommissioning weapons from non-state armed groups. The force’s mandate, including command and control, is subject to negotiations in New York, potentially causing delays that could strengthen Hamas in Gaza.