A little-known US-based private military contractor, UG Solutions, has been accused by American contractors of using live ammunition for crowd control and other abusive measures against unarmed civilians seeking food at controversial food distribution sites run by the Global Humanitarian Fund (GHF) in Gaza. The GHF, which claims to have provided nearly 100 million meals to Gaza, was put in control of what used to be the UN-led aid mission by Israel.
The UN has called the new model an “abomination,” citing 1,000 Gazans killed near or at the GHF centers since May. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have also been accused of shooting and shelling unarmed civilians. The American contractors who witnessed these incidents claim they were told to use live ammunition in their own crowd control efforts.
UG Solutions is one of two US contracting outfits working at the food centers, both denying the contractors’ claims. However, this incident raises questions about the use of American contractors in conflict zones and who they are operating under. UG Solutions operates under a foreign entity, not a US agency contract, which makes them a full-fledged mercenary organization.
The use of private military contractors (PMCs) in conflict zones has created a gray area between war fighters and private civilians filling combat roles. PMC companies like Blackwater have been accused of being mercenaries, but the line is often blurred. The UN defines a mercenary as someone who meets four out of six criteria: recruited to fight, participates in hostilities, motivated by private gain, and not a member of the armed forces.
UG Solutions shares similarities with Blackwater but is primarily doing defensive operations. However, they meet every criterion for being a mercenary group. The company’s mission, ostensibly humanitarian, has evolved into aggressive offensive tactics against an unarmed population of Gazans. Politicians have been silent on this issue, refusing to acknowledge or regulate private companies working as military proxies.
The use of PMCs in conflict zones has raised concerns about accountability and regulation. It is time to call out the work being done by UG Solutions for what it is: mercenary work. If we refuse to define it, we’ll never have a conversation about whether or not we should continue using PMCs as a proxy for US military and foreign policy.
Source: https://responsiblestatecraft.org/us-contractors-gaza-food-2673791401