WASHINGTON – Amid all the scrutiny and skepticism surrounding the Trump administration’s plan to address Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, one element has seemed particularly perplexing: the use of private military contractors to secure the planned aid.
Two little-known firms, the Safe Reach Solutions (SRS) logistics company and the UG Solutions private security company, will publicly assist the newly established Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) and deliver aid amid increasing global outrage surrounding Israel’s failures to alleviate the crisis.
Many details surrounding SRS and UG Solutions remain vague, likely by design. During their previous stint in Gaza from January through the cease-fire’s collapse in March, contractors were reportedly armed with M4 rifles, used by the Israeli and U.S. militaries, and Glock pistols. Assuming they will be authorized by Israel to carry weapons in a war zone, the question remains whether Israel is setting the rules or if they are operating on their own terms. This primarily includes their rules of engagement and whether they will be armed.
“We know from countless examples that contractors do not see themselves as bound by the same already-way-too-loose rules of engagement that the militaries operate under,” Matt Duss, executive vice president at the Center for International Policy think tank, told Haaretz.
that’s cuz they’re contractors most likely and they’ll do whatever they have to do and they don’t have to listen to anybody’s rules that’s why they’re there unfortunately
Yeah honestly I can get behind this one. UN aid organizations in gaza have a proven history of “misallocating” aid directly into the hands of Hamas (thus reinforcing their hold on power).
If people want a Palestine that is democratic and free, putting food directly into the hands of those who need it is a good first step.
It’s unfortunate that food needs to be under armed guard, and it’s even more unfortunate that that armed guard is a PMC, but that’s the political reality we’re in.
America isn’t going to send in troops to fight Hamas over scraps of food - and realistically an official US military presence in Gaza would just further inflame tensions. They’ll take our money, but they don’t want us there.
You should see the translucent ones though. They’re as creepy as fuck.
