American Security Contractors Walk A Thin Line In Gaza

Former private soldiers say this new way of war — unofficial boots on the ground — could go sideways, while giving governments political cover.

By Stavroula Pabst, Responsible Statecraft

The notion of sending private contractors to Gaza has been floated numerous times, to mixed-to-poor reviews. Last year, National Security expert Peter Singer dismissed the cause as “not even half baked.” More recently, a retired military official told RS it was a “bad, bad idea.” Even Washington Post columnist David Ignatius described the concept as “potentially controversial.”

Despite the disquiet, U.S. private contractors are ultimately going to Gaza to work on checkpoint and security maintenance as part of a multinational consortium created pursuant to the recent ceasefire and hostage deal. The consortium, according to Axios, is to facilitate Palestinians’ return to north Gaza while preventing possible weapons flow in the same direction.

Two American contracting outfits are involved. The first, Safe Reach Solutions (SRS) drew up operational plans for a key checkpoint between southern and northern Gaza. The second, UG Solutions, has been assigned to help staff it — company emails say that armed guards will carry out “internal vehicle checkpoint management and vehicle inspection[s]” there.

For this mission, UG Solutions is offering a daily rate of at least $1,100 to personnel (at least 100) it sends to the enclave — along with a $10,000 advance. Contractors have reportedly already been deployed.

The introduction of private contractors is apparently critical to the success of the ceasefire, as Israel’s earlier demands to have IDF forces staff the checkpoint were reportedly holding up previous attempts to broker a deal. But former private military contractors who spoke with Responsible Statecraft say the practice of privatizing military and security-related affairs poses a number of risks to the contractors while allowing governments — in this case, the United States and Israel — to forgo putting their own military on the ground.

Furthermore, these experts say, the private military industry in general — thanks to the built-in profit incentive and overarching opacity of its operations — lends itself to exacerbating and prolonging violence and conflict, not restraining it.