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.