Aid operations in Gaza have come under sharp scrutiny following revelations that American private military contractors, some run by former CIA officers, are now overseeing humanitarian distribution in a region teetering on the brink of famine. According to The Times UK, Safe Reach Solutions — a company registered in Wyoming — is one of two U.S.-based firms now coordinating food handouts in Gaza under the supervision of the Israeli military.
At first glance, Safe Reach Solutions appears to be an innocuous wealth management entity. However, a recent job listing reveals a far more serious role: recruiting former U.S. military personnel for deployment to active war zones in the Middle East. The company is run by Philip Reilly, a former CIA station chief in Afghanistan, and its operations have now extended into Gaza, where 2.1 million Palestinians face critical shortages of food, fuel, and medicine amid an ongoing Israeli blockade.
The entry of these contractors coincides with the Israeli government’s decision to sideline the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the longstanding provider of Palestinian aid, and instead rely on a Delaware- and Switzerland-registered nonprofit, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). While GHF claims independence, critics argue it is functioning as a proxy for Israeli control over the flow of humanitarian assistance.
GHF is currently establishing distribution hubs — three in southern Gaza — where Safe Reach Solutions personnel, often ex-military, are managing aid dispersals. These operations are unfolding under heightened tensions. Just last week, chaos erupted at the GHF’s first site in Tel al-Sultan as desperate crowds surged forward to receive food. According to Gaza’s health ministry, Israeli troops opened fire, injuring 47. The GHF denied that fatalities occurred, contradicting reports from local officials.
On Sunday, tragedy struck again. At least 31 Palestinians were reported dead after Israeli forces allegedly fired on civilians approaching another GHF distribution point. While the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) denied firing on civilians, claiming an internal inquiry found no wrongdoing, the GHF maintained that aid had been delivered “without incident.” Witnesses, however, described a tank opening fire on aid-seekers.
The GHF’s credibility has also come into question. Jake Wood, a former U.S. Marine and initial leader of the foundation, resigned in protest, accusing the organization of lacking “humanity, neutrality, and impartiality.” Nate Mook, ex-CEO of World Central Kitchen — which lost seven aid workers in an Israeli drone strike in 2024 — denied ever being involved, despite being listed as a board member.
Yair Lapid, head of Israel’s opposition, criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for using organizations like GHF and Safe Reach Solutions to maintain de facto control over aid flows while distancing the Israeli government from accusations of humanitarian manipulation.
The Times UK reported that these developments are unfolding amidst worsening hunger in Gaza. The haunting image of five-month-old Siwar Ashour, weighing just 2 kilograms due to a lack of baby formula, has become emblematic of the crisis. UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini described the situation as “man-made” and labeled the GHF’s operations “dystopian,” accusing Israel of attempting to “weaponise humanitarian assistance.”
UNRWA was removed from Gaza after Israeli allegations that some of its staff participated in the October 7 Hamas attacks. Although a UN investigation confirmed that nine of its 30,000 employees “could” have been involved, with all subsequently dismissed, Lazzarini emphasized the lack of conclusive evidence and warned against blanket condemnation of the agency.
Meanwhile, a second U.S. contractor, UG Solutions — a low-profile company based in North Carolina — is reportedly patrolling Gaza’s Netzarim Corridor. The firm is said to be offering ex-special forces personnel up to $1,100 per day plus a $10,000 advance. One such operative, Afghanistan war veteran Sky Wallace, confirmed his presence in Israel but declined to comment on operations, referring inquiries to UG Solutions’ Public Affairs Office.
Critics have drawn parallels between these private contractors and infamous operations such as Blackwater, the military contractor responsible for the 2007 Nisour Square massacre in Baghdad. “We are watching a troubling return to militarized humanitarian aid,” said one aid analyst.
Despite the scrutiny, a spokesperson for GHF reiterated the foundation’s independence: “GHF’s mission is to alleviate the suffering of Gaza’s civilian population by delivering critical aid without diversion or delay. While the Israeli government has permitted our entry, it has no operational control over our activities.”
