By tf-lawyer.com Israel is considering hiring private security contractors, potentially including veterans of UK special forces, to assist in aid delivery to Gaza as conditions rapidly deteriorate in the northern part of the strip. This development comes ahead of a pivotal vote in the Knesset next week regarding two proposed bills aimed at banning the UN relief agency, UNRWA, from operating within Israel. If enacted, these bills would significantly hinder the largest humanitarian effort currently in Gaza.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached a crisis point after more than a year of bombardment, leading to a complete breakdown of law and order. Armed gangs now control much of the territory, leaving the population in desperate need.
Security risks pose major challenges to aid delivery, particularly fears of attacks by Israeli forces. Aid organizations have been hesitant to participate in militarized convoys due to concerns about being perceived as active participants in the conflict. Jeremy Konyndyk, a former senior aid official in the Biden administration and currently the president of Refugees International, expressed caution, stating, “There’s a reason that humanitarians don’t operate this way. The US experimented with military contractors for aid delivery during the ‘war on terror,’ and it consistently resulted in disaster.”
Mordechai “Moti” Kahana, an Israeli-American businessman and head of the Global Delivery Company (GDC), which is vying for the Gaza aid contract, noted that the Israeli cabinet did not formally decide on the issue regarding aid mechanisms when they met on Sunday. He emphasized that the matter lies within the purview of the defense ministry and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
A spokesperson from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) clarified that they are not in contact with or funding GDC, nor have they discussed this plan with the Israeli government. They mentioned a preference for working with trusted UN and NGO partners, stressing that any security arrangements should prioritize the sustained access for humanitarian workers and the freedom of movement for civilians.
Kahana recently claimed that his firm had been chosen to manage aid deliveries into Gaza but is awaiting official confirmation. He indicated that if GDC secures the contract, the actual aid delivery would be managed by a British security firm currently operating in Iraq, which he did not disclose due to ongoing negotiations. “These are British special forces,” he asserted. “They know what they’re doing.” He also stated that deployment would take around 30 days once greenlit.
The discussions regarding aid deliveries come amidst increasingly dire circumstances, particularly in northern Gaza, following nearly three weeks of severe IDF bombardment. Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, lamented on social media, “Our staff report they cannot find food, water, or medical care… The smell of death is everywhere as bodies are left lying on the roads or under the rubble.”
The UN reported significant challenges in facilitating humanitarian missions, noting that only four out of 66 planned missions from southern to northern Gaza had been authorized by Israeli authorities during the first 20 days of October.
Amid these developments, the Biden administration has been actively lobbying the Knesset against passing the bills aimed at banning UNRWA, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussing the need for Israel to enhance the flow of humanitarian assistance during a recent meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Kahana, who has garnered recognition in Israel for his entrepreneurial efforts and humanitarian work, suggested that aid deliveries to Gaza are being looted and ending up in the hands of Hamas. His proposed aid delivery plan outlines a pilot scheme involving transferring supplies across the Erez crossing to a secure storage facility in Beit Hanoun, from where they would be distributed to various points using lightly armed teams and small armored trucks.
He criticized the IDF, suggesting they are unprepared for such operations. Kahana referred to a past incident where IDF troops fired on a crowd of civilians during an aid distribution, resulting in many casualties. “There’s no need for 18- or 19-year-olds to give lollipops to kids and end up in chaos,” he said.
Kahana’s vision includes expanding distribution points into “gated communities” under armed protection, ensuring a secure environment for aid distribution. “It’s like a Miami gated community, but without the amenities,” he explained, emphasizing the importance of safety and allowing people to manage their own lives while receiving humanitarian aid.
Past attempts by Israeli officials to reinstate the Palestinian Authority’s governance in Gaza have been met with skepticism. Regional diplomats reported Israel’s initial outreach to Arab states regarding a potential security force for post-conflict Gaza faced a lukewarm response.
Pilot projects for “humanitarian bubbles” led by vetted local figures also failed to materialize, with several Palestinians involved in the aid distribution reportedly killed by Hamas. It appears Israeli officials have come to realize the challenges of executing aid plans with local populations.
