Recent news regarding Gaza and international response can be found on The Times (US). For example, Jordan King warns against forcing through peace deal AP News 5 days ago
Israel’s top diplomat announced last Friday, via Reuters, that Turkish troops will play no role in Gaza force operations. Macron condemned Gaza as an impending catastrophe and called for UN intervention.
Leading states have expressed serious reservations over any plan to deploy a multinational force into Gaza following Hamas-Israel war, insisting it only be done so under authority from the UN. Jordan and Germany foreign ministers made clear on 1 November that an international “stabilisation force” for Gaza needs an official mandate from Security Council for legitimization and effectiveness. To this effect, Dawn at 11:30 GMT.
What Is Being Proposed
Donald Trump recently brokered a post-war arrangement through which a coalition of predominantly Arab and Muslim-majority countries would deploy troops into Gaza as part of his plan, to train and support a Palestinian police force while monitoring border security, overseeing border protection measures and prevent weapons flowing to Hamas. Arab News PK
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Jordan and Germany’s Position
Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi addressed attendees of the IISS Manama Dialogue held in Bahrain and made this statement:
“All sides agree that for any stabilisation force to be effective…it must have the authorization of the Security Council.”
Arab News Additionally, Jordan will not directly deploy troops in Gaza due to proximity and political considerations:
“We cannot deploy troops in Gaza as this issue is too close for comfort.” The New Arab
Speaking alongside Safadi, Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul insisted that any proposed mission be grounded on sound international law principles:
“This issue is of paramount importance for countries looking at sending troops into Gaza… Germany would also like a clear mandate for such missions,” states Arab News PK.
Why the Mandate Matters
Without a UN mandate, forces deployed without authorization risk being perceived as lacking legitimacy and as an occupation rather than peacekeeping/stabilisation missions. UN experts have warned of how a poorly defined force might replace Israeli occupation with U.S. control that undermines Palestinian self-determination.
The New Arab reports this fact.
Contributing nations require assurances that a mission will operate under recognised international legal frameworks, which would be provided by a UN mandate. Without it, states may hesitate to commit troops or resources due to fears of legal, political or reputational ramifications.
Context and Challenges in Context
Since resumption of conflict on 7 October 2023, Gaza Strip has been left in tatters; an American-brokered ceasefire agreement has provided the framework for a stabilisation proposal.
Arab News PK
But the region remains volatile. Israel has said that they will determine which foreign forces can enter, while some countries remain wary about contributing. AP News
Establishing the exact role and rules of engagement of the force: Are they meant for peacekeeping, enforcement or something in between?
Assuring the involvement of Palestinian governance structures to uphold legitimacy.
Reaching consensus at the UN Security Council could prove challenging due to diverging views regarding Israel-Palestine conflict.
Clarifying exit strategies and long-term objectives of the force: how and when it passes over control to local institutions.
What Could Happen Next
With Jordan and Germany seeking a UN mandate, diplomatic discussions at the UN may intensify in coming weeks among potential troop-contributing nations and in particular those who could provide troops. In that vein, the U.S. and its allies may attempt to present a resolution or international agreement outlining its scope, rules and legitimacy as soon as possible.
Caliber.az Acquiring a UN mandate could open up greater participation, funding and oversight for an intervention force; otherwise it may remain fragmented over time and risk mission creep, legitimacy issues or rejection by local populations.
Conclusion
Jordan and Germany’s insistence that any Gaza stabilisation force must have an official UN Security Council mandate reflects both legal prudence and political reality. In such a volatile region as Gaza, legitimacy and legal bases for any force attempting to restore order, protect civilians and support a transition toward peace are absolutely necessary for any effective force aiming at restoration. Now comes the hard part — seeing whether this call translates into concrete UN action — or whether its efforts stall out in diplomatic uncertainty.