American commandos man Gaza checkpoint during fragile truce
An American private company is deploying former commandos to operate a checkpoint in the Gaza Strip during a truce between Israel and Hamas, according to a report by "The Guardian."
The private American company is employing US special forces veterans for this operation in Gaza. These activities are occurring amid the truce between Israel and Hamas, as reported by "The Guardian." The plan is to eventually have approximately 100 former military personnel staffing the checkpoint.
The presence of armed American commandos in such a volatile conflict zone is unprecedented. "The Guardian" highlights that deploying veterans in this manner poses a risk of drawing the USA into direct combat. Some checkpoint personnel are already present on site.
The idea of employing veterans through a private company as part of a post-war peacekeeping effort in the Gaza Strip was suggested by the United Arab Emirates. According to "The Guardian," the veterans will be managing a key checkpoint location in the Strip. They will be armed, with specific regulations outlining when they can open fire. “We have the right to defend ourselves,” one of them told the portal.
Tasks and cooperation
The primary responsibility of the company employing American veterans is to oversee vehicle control. Earlier in the week, Israeli Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sharen Haskel stated that Israel demanded cooperation with a private company, working alongside "an Egyptian security company or forces," to maintain security and facilitate the movement of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
A Palestinian official closely involved in the negotiations leading to the truce noted that American commandos would be positioned at the checkpoint located at the intersection of the Netzarim corridor. This strategic location nearly bisects the Strip into northern and southern regions, with the Salah al-Din route available for Palestinians to travel between these areas. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office declined to comment, and the US State Department, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Hamas did not respond to requests for comment.
