An American security firm is hiring 96 U.S. special forces veterans to man a checkpoint in the Gaza Strip for the duration of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire; some of the armed American contractors are already deployed in the area, Reuters reported on Thursday.
Their deployment is part of the terms of the truce struck with the United States as a main mediator, with the aim to maintain security and prevent the ceasefire from collapsing.
The report cited a spokesperson for UG Solutions, a small company founded in 2023 and based in Davidson, N.C., who confirmed the American presence in Gaza under condition of anonymity.
According to a recruitment email obtained by Reuters, the contractors are offered a daily rate starting at $1,100, with a $10,000 advance.
The email specifies that the contractors will be armed with M4 rifles, used by the Israeli and U.S. militaries, and Glock handguns. The veterans’ rules of engagement have been finalized, the company’s spokesperson said. While not sharing their content, he was quoted as saying that “we have the right to defend ourselves.”
According to Reuters, Jerusalem initially demanded to staff with its own troops the checkpoint, situated at the Netzarim Corridor that runs south of Gaza City from the Mediterranean Sea to the Israeli border, but Emirati diplomats suggested using private contractors instead.
As for the risk posed to the American personnel, a Palestinian official close to the negotiations told Reuters that they are not stationed in close proximity to residents and will not engage with the locals.
The UG Solutions email said its primary mission was “internal vehicle checkpoint management and vehicle inspection,” the report added. “We’re only focused on vehicles,” the spokesperson noted.
Witnesses in Gaza have in recent days reported that Egyptian security forces were stationed at the checkpoint, using scanners to look for weapons concealed in vehicles, the report added.
Israel, the U.S., Egypt and Hamas did not respond to requests for comment, Reuters said.
Meanwhile on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to the Netzarim Corridor together with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.
Witkoff and Dermer reviewed the implementation of the truce deal and inspected Palestinian vehicles driving across the Netzarim Corridor to the northern Gaza Strip, Israeli officials told the Axios and Kan News outlets.