US private contractors to staff Gaza checkpoint amid ceasefire

A U.S. security firm is deploying nearly 100 American special forces veterans to operate an internal checkpoint in Gaza, marking the first time armed U.S. contractors will be stationed in the region during the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.

The unprecedented deployment raises concerns about the possibility of American personnel being drawn into the conflict, as tensions in the enclave remain high.

Private contractors hired for checkpoint operations

UG Solutions, a low-profile security firm based in North Carolina, has been recruiting former U.S. special operations forces for the mission. The company is offering a daily pay rate starting at $1,100, with a $10,000 signing bonus, according to a recruitment email confirmed by a company spokesperson.

The contractors are tasked with vehicle inspection and checkpoint management at a key intersection in Gaza’s interior. Some personnel have already arrived at the site, though the company has not disclosed how many are currently deployed.

Security risks and rules of engagement

The presence of armed U.S. contractors in Gaza, where Hamas remains an active force, has raised security concerns among analysts.

“Of course, there is a threat they will face,” said Avi Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence official.

The document detailing UG Solutions‘ contract states that the contractors will be equipped with M4 rifles and Glock pistols, similar to those used by the U.S. and Israeli militaries.

The company spokesperson confirmed that the rules of engagement for the personnel have been finalized but declined to disclose specific details.

“We have the right to defend ourselves,” he said, without providing further information on the conditions under which contractors may use force.

Checkpoint management as part of ceasefire deal

The deployment is part of the ongoing ceasefire arrangements, which were mediated by Egypt and Qatar with U.S. support.

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel confirmed that Israel had insisted on including a private security firm to work alongside Egyptian security personnel to facilitate aid flows and maintain security at the checkpoint.

A Palestinian official close to the negotiations confirmed the presence of U.S. contractors at a checkpoint located at the intersection of the Netzarim Corridor and Salah al-Din Street, two key transit points in Gaza.

The official emphasized that contractors would not directly interact with the local population and would be stationed away from civilians.

Concerns over US contractor deployment

The use of private military contractors by the U.S. in conflict zones has been controversial.

In 2007, security personnel from Blackwater, a now-defunct private military firm, killed 14 civilians in Baghdad, sparking a diplomatic crisis. In 2004, four Blackwater contractors were killed and hung from a bridge in Fallujah, Iraq, leading to a large-scale U.S. military response.

While UG Solutions has stated that its mission is limited to checkpoint security, some experts have warned that the risk of direct engagement in hostilities remains high.

A U.S. security industry source familiar with the contract described the deployment as hazardous, noting that it was unclear which nation’s laws would govern the contractors’ actions or how they would be extracted in the event of an attack or capture.

The spokesperson for UG Solutions assured that quick reaction forces would be available, though no further details were provided.

International reactions and funding questions

A separate source familiar with the deal stated that the contract is funded by Israel and unnamed Arab nations that participated in the ceasefire negotiations.

The U.S. government was not directly involved in awarding the contract, according to this source, though Washington has played a key diplomatic role in ceasefire discussions.

Neither the U.S. State Department, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry, nor Hamas responded to requests for comment on the matter.