Armed American Veterans Monitor Gaza Checkpoint Amid Ongoing Ceasefire

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Armed former U.S. military personnel are now managing a checkpoint along Salah-al-Din Road in the Gaza Strip as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which commenced on January 27, 2025. Reports indicate that private American security firms, including UG Solutions and Safe Reach Solutions, have been contracted to oversee security measures and prevent the smuggling of weapons into northern Gaza. UG Solutions is reportedly recruiting about 100 ex-special forces veterans, offering salaries starting at $1,100 per day, along with a $10,000 upfront payment and death insurance of $500,000, according to a recruitment email obtained by Reuters.

The checkpoint is operational, featuring a vehicle scanner to inspect traffic, although the extent of American presence on-site remains unclear. Hampered by past experiences with private military firms, U.S. officials are wary of the potential for conflict should hostilities resume. Queries arise regarding the safety and effectiveness of such privatized military efforts in a region marked by tensions, particularly given local sentiments against American involvement. While the U.S. government was not directly involved in the decision to use security firms, funding is said to come from Israel and unspecified Arab states, Reuters reported.

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