A small security firm based in the U.S. is in the process of hiring nearly 100 veterans from U.S. special forces to manage a checkpoint in Gaza during the ongoing truce between Israel and Hamas. This initiative, confirmed by a company spokesperson and detailed in a recruitment email reviewed by Reuters, marks the introduction of armed American contractors into a highly volatile conflict zone.

UG Solutions, a relatively new company established in 2023 and located in Davidson, North Carolina, is offering a starting daily rate of $1,100 along with a $10,000 advance to the veterans it recruits, as indicated in the email.

The spokesperson noted that these contractors will be stationed at a critical intersection within Gaza, affirming the email’s authenticity. Some individuals have already been recruited and are currently present at the checkpoint, although the spokesperson, who requested anonymity, did not disclose the exact number of contractors already deployed.

While UG Solutions’ involvement in the ceasefire arrangement has been previously reported, the email revealed additional details, including the goal of enlisting 96 veterans specifically from U.S. special operations forces, the compensation structure, and the types of firearms they will be equipped with.

On January 7, Reuters reported that Emirati officials had proposed the inclusion of private contractors as part of a peacekeeping force in Gaza following the conflict, a suggestion that has raised concerns among Western nations.

The deployment of armed American contractors in Gaza, where Hamas continues to exert significant influence after 14 months of conflict, is unprecedented and raises the potential for U.S. personnel to become embroiled in hostilities as the Trump administration aims to prevent a resurgence of the Hamas-Israel conflict.

Among the dangers confronting Americans are potential confrontations with Islamist militants or Palestinians who are upset with the U.S. backing of Israel’s actions in Gaza. “Certainly, there is a risk they will encounter,” stated Avi Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence officer.

The report indicated that the contractors will be equipped with M4 rifles, commonly utilized by both the Israeli and U.S. armed forces, as well as Glock handguns.

The spokesperson confirmed that the rules of engagement for when UG Solutions personnel are permitted to use their weapons have been established, although he refrained from providing specific details.

“We reserve the right to protect ourselves,” he remarked, choosing not to elaborate on how the company secured the contract.

EGYPT’S INVOLVEMENT

On Tuesday, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel informed the press, without referencing UG Solutions or the United States, that Israel insisted on including a private security firm in the agreement, collaborating with “an Egyptian security company or forces” to ensure the security and flow of humanitarian aid in Gaza. However, she noted that it remains uncertain whether this arrangement will be effective. Previous ceasefire discussions were stalled due to Israel’s insistence on deploying its own troops at the checkpoint.

In recent days, witnesses in Gaza have reported that Egyptian security personnel at the checkpoint are utilizing scanners to detect concealed weapons in vehicles. An Egyptian source indicated that the personnel stationed at the checkpoint are special forces who have undergone training in counter-terrorism in recent months. A Palestinian official involved in the discussions confirmed that U.S. contractors would also be present at the checkpoint, located at the intersection of the Netzarim Corridor, which divides northern and southern Gaza, and Salah al-Din Street, which separates the eastern and western parts of the enclave.

The official noted that the U.S. contractors would be positioned away from the local residents passing through and would not engage with the local population. An email from UG Solutions stated that their primary focus is “internal vehicle checkpoint management and vehicle inspection.” A spokesperson emphasized that their attention is solely on vehicles. The Israeli prime minister’s office refrained from commenting further on the security measures in place. Requests for comments from the U.S. State Department, Egypt’s foreign office, and Hamas went unanswered.

The involvement of private security firms by the U.S. has previously resulted in significant controversies. In 2007, contractors from the now-defunct Blackwater company killed 14 civilians in Baghdad’s Al Nisour Square, leading to a diplomatic crisis and widespread outrage among Iraqis. Four Blackwater employees were convicted in a U.S. court but were later pardoned by Trump during his first term. In 2004, insurgents in Fallujah, Iraq, killed four Americans working for Blackwater and displayed two of their bodies from a bridge, which triggered a substantial U.S. military response.

The personnel hired by UG Solutions will collaborate with U.S.-based Safe Reach Solutions, which specializes in logistics and planning, according to the spokesperson and another source familiar with the contract. Each hire will receive $500,000 in accidental death and dismemberment insurance, with the daily rate for former U.S. special forces medics reaching $1,250, as stated in the email.

A source with knowledge of the agreement indicated that Israel, along with unnamed “Arab countries” involved in the negotiations, is financing the consortium. The U.S. government was not directly involved in the decision to incorporate a security firm into the ceasefire agreement or in the contract award, according to this source.

‘VICTORY NARRATIVE’

Ahmed Fuad Alkhatib, a fellow at the Atlantic Council and a Gaza native, minimized the risks for Americans, suggesting that their involvement in facilitating the return of displaced Palestinian civilians enhances Hamas’ narrative of triumph over Israel. “Even Hamas, despite its extreme rhetoric and actions, recognizes that this very American presence … contributes to its victory narrative,” he stated.

Gaza has suffered extensive destruction due to Israeli airstrikes throughout 15 months of conflict, which erupted following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, resulting in 1,200 Israeli fatalities and 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Nearly 47,000 Palestinians, predominantly civilians, have lost their lives in the ongoing violence. A 60-day ceasefire commenced on January 19, marking the initial phase of an agreement brokered by Egypt and Qatar with U.S. backing. Since then, hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have been making their way on foot and in vehicles through the checkpoint heading north toward Gaza City, much of which has been reduced to rubble by Israeli strikes.

WHO-G?

Several individuals within the private security sector informed Reuters that they were unfamiliar with UG Solutions. The only official associated with the company listed in Virginia state incorporation records is Jameson Govani, a U.S. Special Forces veteran, who has not responded to phone inquiries.

A source from a U.S. private security firm, who requested to remain anonymous, expressed concerns regarding the deployment of American personnel in Gaza under the UG Solutions contract, indicating that the situation could escalate into combat “very quickly.”

The source noted uncertainty about the implications if American contractors were to face attack or capture, as well as which country’s laws would apply to their operations. The email did not specify who would be responsible for their rescue.

A spokesperson for UG stated that the document in question was outdated and assured that rapid response teams would be on standby, although no additional information was provided. “We are fully prepared to ensure our own safety,” he remarked.