Two years ago, we argued that the international community was overlooking one of the only workable options for Gaza’s post-war governance: a UN-led transitional administration. Today, that idea is essentially the US’s proposal before the UN Security Council.
The draft resolution, now circulating in New York, calls for a two-year International Stabilisation Force under UN mandate to administer and stabilise the security environment in Gaza while reinforcing the fragile ceasefire. It envisions co-operation with regional states, demilitarisation of non-state armed groups and an interim governance structure – a so-called “Board of Peace” – supported by the UN.
Our earlier warnings about the risks of such a proposal are even more acute given the recent reports that the US proposal would also see a division of Gaza into two zones, one of which would retain Israeli forces on the ground. Any international presence in Gaza must be legitimate in the eyes of Gazans, providing meaningful Palestinian participation in governance from the outset. It should have a clearly defined role for regional actors, giving them a stake in the successful transformation of Gaza from an occupied warzone to a self-administered territory. And the Security Council mandate should be unambiguously temporary, with a viable pathway for exit and phased transition to full Palestinian rule.
The US plan proposes a new interim governing body for Gaza rather than a return to direct Palestinian rule. This rightly acknowledges that Gazans would reject any imposition of the Palestinian Authority in an interim administration, and that Israel rejects any role for Hamas in the future of Gaza. But legitimacy cannot be outsourced. Any transitional administration must include Palestinians’ participation from the start, not merely as advisers but as decision-makers in reconstruction, policing and justice.
Gazans will not accept an international presence that feels imposed from the outside, even less so if it appears to sideline Palestinian political voices. The mission must be built on consultation and inclusion, drawing on Gaza’s civil society, local technocrats and professional networks that long kept the enclave functioning under siege. These are the people who can be the bridges between international structures and local realities.
Here, history offers important lessons. After the US invasion of Iraq, the de-Baathification process dismantled the state’s administrative core, leaving long-term risks (for example, ISIS) in its wake. Gaza cannot afford a similar purge, which would risk paralysing reconstruction efforts. There are many ways an internationally administered mission could build on the UN’s experience in vetting to retain a core group of Palestinian technocrats who can keep Gaza’s ministries running.
Similarly, the mission’s mandate should recognise that disarming everyone in Gaza overnight is impossible. A phased demilitarisation plan should prioritise protecting civilians and enabling humanitarian aid delivery, not conducting an open-ended counter-insurgency.
The proposal before the Security Council rightly seeks co-operation from Egypt, Jordan and possibly Gulf states. Regional involvement can lend credibility and investment, especially if Arab forces are part of the international stabilisation force. And regional partners will remain essential to the long-term credibility and implementation of any proposal. But this should not become a regional occupation under US or UN sponsorship. The UN should remain the visible face of the mission, with regional partners operating under its mandate and oversight.
A UN leadership role is especially important given the strongly different positions across regional actors. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are setting strict conditions for any engagement in an international mission in Gaza, whereas Qatar, Turkey and others appear more willing to support it without as many conditions. The UN is far from universally accepted by Israel, Palestine or even regional leaders, but it is the best source of impartiality for the long, heavily contested process that lies ahead.
The draft resolution also calls on the World Bank and other financial institutions to establish a dedicated trust fund to support Gaza’s redevelopment. Frontloading this fund with a serious sum of money is probably a condition to any successful interim mission in Gaza.
Without a clearly defined exit strategy, a transitional mission could easily morph into an open-ended protectorate we cautioned against
The US proposal’s two-year timeframe until the end of 2027 acknowledges the need for a time-bound international presence in Gaza. This is the right idea: any transitional mission must aim to restore Palestinian self-governance within a clear horizon. The international community cannot indefinitely govern 2.3 million people without their consent.
But the danger of mission creep is real. The draft resolution suggests that an expiry date could be extended, subject to Security Council approval. Rebuilding a devastated territory, disarming armed groups, training police, restoring governance, and preparing and holding elections will take far longer than two years. Without a clearly defined exit strategy, a transitional mission could easily become an open-ended protectorate we cautioned against.
To avoid this, the Security Council should define measurable milestones for the phased withdrawal of international actors and incremental increases in Palestinian ownership of the process. The end state should be Palestinian rule within a framework of Gazans’ dignity and Israel’s security, but many steps will be required along the way.
Two years ago, we called a UN-led transitional mission “the best hope we have”. At the time, it was hypothetical. Now a version of this idea is a formal proposal from Washington, debated at the UN Security Council. This shift reflects a growing realisation that neither total war nor wishful diplomacy will produce a stable Gaza, nor begin to address the scale of destruction Gaza has experienced.
Whether this mission becomes a genuine bridge to peace or just another failed experiment will depend on whether the UN and its partners treat Gazans as partners, not wards, and whether the mission can oversee an incremental increase in Palestinian governance over Gaza.
Dr Adam Day is head of the Geneva Office of UN University Centre for Policy Research
Emma Bapt is a research collaborator based in Geneva supporting human rights and conflict prevention work
SCHEDULE
6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 1,600m
7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 1,200m
8.50pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 2,000m
9.25pm:Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
Amith's predicted winners:
6.30pm: Down On Da Bayou
7.05pm: Etisalat
7.40pm: Mulfit
8.15pm: Pennsylvania Dutch
8.50pm: Mudallel
9.25pm: Midnight Sands
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
FIXTURES
Fixtures for Round 15 (all times UAE)
Friday
Inter Milan v AS Roma (11.45pm)
Saturday
Atalanta v Verona (6pm)
Udinese v Napoli (9pm)
Lazio v Juventus (11.45pm)
Sunday
Lecce v Genoa (3.30pm)
Sassuolo v Cagliari (6pm)
SPAL v Brescia (6pm)
Torino v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sampdoria v Parma (9pm)
Bologna v AC Milan (11.45pm)
Series info
Test series schedule 1st Test, Abu Dhabi: Sri Lanka won by 21 runs; 2nd Test, Dubai: Play starts at 2pm, Friday-Tuesday
ODI series schedule 1st ODI, Dubai: October 13; 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 16; 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 18; 4th ODI, Sharjah: October 20; 5th ODI, Sharjah: October 23
T20 series schedule 1st T20, Abu Dhabi: October 26; 2nd T20, Abu Dhabi: October 27; 3rd T20, Lahore: October 29
Tickets Available at www.q-tickets.com
Stat Fourteen Fourteen of the past 15 Test matches in the UAE have been decided on the final day. Both of the previous two Tests at Dubai International Stadium have been settled in the last session. Pakistan won with less than an hour to go against West Indies last year. Against England in 2015, there were just three balls left.
Key battle - Azhar Ali v Rangana Herath Herath may not quite be as flash as Muttiah Muralitharan, his former spin-twin who ended his career by taking his 800th wicket with his final delivery in Tests. He still has a decent sense of an ending, though. He won the Abu Dhabi match for his side with 11 wickets, the last of which was his 400th in Tests. It was not the first time he has owned Pakistan, either. A quarter of all his Test victims have been Pakistani. If Pakistan are going to avoid a first ever series defeat in the UAE, Azhar, their senior batsman, needs to stand up and show the way to blunt Herath.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WEST ASIA RUGBY 2017/18 SEASON ROLL OF HONOUR
Western Clubs Champions League
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons
Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership Cup
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
MO
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Trolls World Tour
Directed by: Walt Dohrn, David Smith
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake
Rating: 4 stars
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Three ways to boost your credit score
Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:
1. Make sure you make your payments on time;
2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;
3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.
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Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
The five pillars of Islam
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Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
LAST-16 FIXTURES
Sunday, January 20
3pm: Jordan v Vietnam at Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
6pm: Thailand v China at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: Iran v Oman at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Monday, January 21
3pm: Japan v Saudi Arabia at Sharjah Stadium
6pm: Australia v Uzbekistan at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: UAE v Kyrgyzstan at Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tuesday, January 22
5pm: South Korea v Bahrain at Rashid Stadium, Dubai
8pm: Qatar v Iraq at Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
A German university was a good fit for the family budget
Annual fees for the Technical University of Munich - £600
Shared rental accommodation per month depending on the location ranges between £200-600
The family had budgeted for food, books, travel, living expenses - £20,000 annually
Overall costs in Germany are lower than the family estimated
As proof that the student has the ability to take care of expenses, international students must open a blocked account with about £8,640
Students are permitted to withdraw £720 per month
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