An American security company seeks a new role in Gaza despite criticism
An American security company that previously deployed military veterans to guard aid sites in Gaza has said it is holding talks with the Peace Council, sponsored by US President Donald Trump, regarding a prospective role in the enclave. The move comes after the company faced criticism from the United Nations over deadly incidents at its distribution points.
UG Solutions disclosed the previously unreported information after Reuters revealed that it was recruiting Arabic-speaking contractors with combat experience to work at undisclosed sites. A source familiar with the Peace Council’s plans confirmed that discussions with the company are underway.
Based in North Carolina, UG Solutions provided security services last year to the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation before suspending its operations following the ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in October.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation drew criticism from the United Nations and other international bodies after Palestinians were killed while attempting to reach its aid distribution sites, located in areas where Israeli forces were deployed and opened fire, resulting in hundreds of deaths. The Israeli military has said its troops fired in response to threats and to disperse crowds.
A spokesperson for UG Solutions said on Wednesday that the company had “submitted information and proposals to the US-led Peace Council,” a body established by President Donald Trump to advance his plan to end the war in Gaza.
“Our proposal was well received,” the spokesperson added, “but until the Peace Council defines its security priorities, UG Solutions is internally planning a range of possible avenues to support efforts in Gaza.”
A source familiar with the Council’s plans said discussions have been ongoing for weeks with UG Solutions and several other parties, though no final agreement has been reached.
The potential return of UG Solutions to the enclave may be viewed by Palestinians as troubling, given the violence that occurred last year.
Amjad al-Shawa, head of the Palestinian NGO Network, which coordinates with the United Nations and international humanitarian agencies, said: “The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and those behind it have Palestinian blood on their hands and are not welcome to return to Gaza.” The Foundation has consistently defended its security approach during the months it operated in the enclave.
The UG Solutions spokesperson stated that the company’s armed contractors were limited to securing aid sites and their immediate surroundings and had no control over the movements of the Israeli military or Palestinian armed factions.
He added that humanitarian organizations and commercial entities “are seeking to engage UG Solutions to assist in their operations” amid looting and diversion of shipments, suggesting that the company’s potential role could extend beyond cooperation with the Peace Council.
Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza calls for increased humanitarian aid, an Israeli withdrawal following Hamas’s disarmament, and reconstruction under the supervision of a Peace Council led by the US president.
The Council is scheduled to meet in Washington next week to raise funds and discuss additional matters. The funds are expected to support a reconstruction plan devised by Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, to rebuild Gaza in phases, beginning with Rafah in the south, an area under Israeli military control.
Rafah is where the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation had established three of its four aid distribution sites, drawing Palestinians in urgent need of food.
Health officials in Gaza and the United Nations have said that Israeli forces killed hundreds of Palestinians attempting to obtain aid at the Foundation’s sites. The UN described the Foundation’s operations as inherently dangerous and in violation of humanitarian principles requiring the safe delivery of assistance.
The Israeli military acknowledged that an unspecified number of Palestinians were harmed, stating that its troops fired to control crowds and confront direct threats, and that it revised its procedures following the incidents.
When the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation ended its operations, UG Solutions said it would remain “the preferred security company for those focused on reconstruction and aid delivery” as outlined in Trump’s plan to end the conflict. The company posted several job openings on its website, as reported by Reuters on Wednesday, and disclosed its Gaza-related discussions in response to the agency’s inquiries about those positions.
One advertised position, International Humanitarian Security Officer, includes responsibilities such as “securing critical infrastructure, facilitating humanitarian efforts, and ensuring stability in an active environment.” Preferred qualifications include proficiency in the use of small arms.
Another position, open to women only, is for a Cultural Support Officer tasked with ensuring the “safe, effective, and culturally appropriate distribution of aid.”
The spokesperson explained that these roles are intended to prepare a team for potential contracts in Gaza and for expansion into Syria, where the company aims to provide services in the oil and gas sector.
