Private US Contractors to Manage Checkpoint in Gaza Amid Truce

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A US security firm, UG Solutions, is reportedly recruiting nearly 100 US special forces veterans to manage a checkpoint in Gaza, a move that marks the unprecedented introduction of armed private contractors into a conflict zone. According to a recruitment email obtained by Reuters, the company, based in Davidson, North Carolina, is offering daily rates starting at $1,100, plus a $10,000 advance, to veterans with special operations backgrounds.

The checkpoint is situated along the key Netzarim Corridor, which separates northern and southern Gaza. A UG Solutions spokesperson confirmed that some contractors are already on-site. This initiative follows discussions involving Emirati officials about the potential role of private contractors in any post-war peacekeeping efforts. Israeli officials, including Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel, indicated that the arrangement is intended to bolster security and facilitate humanitarian aid in Gaza.

Concerns have been raised, however, regarding the potential risks to American personnel amid ongoing tensions with local resistance groups. The US State Department and other involved parties have yet to comment on the arrangement.

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