US contractors claim colleagues fired at Palestinians seeking aid
The contractors, employed by UG Solution, an American subcontractor in charge of hiring security personnel at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution sites, provided the AP with testimonies, videos, internal reports and text messages.
The footage has been authenticated by the AP, who geolocated it using aerial imagery and which has been checked by regional experts.
It shows Palestinians squeezed together between metal gates, ducking at the sound of gunfire and moving away from the smoke from stun grenades.
The contractors claimed that live bullets, stun grenades and pepper spray are used at nearly every distribution site in Gaza, even if there was no security threat. One of them said bullets were fired regularly in all directions, including towards aid seekers.
A photo shared by one of the contractors shows a woman lying on a donkey cart after reportedly being hit in the head by part of a stun grenade.
In one of the videos, an American security contractor can be heard saying he arranged to bring in an Israeli tank as a "show of force" to disperse nearby Palestinians.
"But I told them to hold there. I don't want this to be too aggressive," he added.
In another video, contractors can be seen standing on top of a mound of earth and after a round of gunfire, voices off-screen can be heard cheering and saying "I think you hit one" and "Hell yeah, boy!"
The contractor who filmed the video told the AP the other contractors initially started shooting in an effort to disperse the crowd, but then reportedly continued firing in the direction of Palestinians who had collected their aid and were leaving the site.
While the video does not show who was shooting or who was shot at, the contractor claimed that he witnessed other contractors firing at Palestinians about 55 metres away and that he saw a man fall to the ground.
The two contractors that came forward said they did so because they were disturbed at what they saw unfold and considered these practices "dangerous" and "irresponsible."
"There are innocent people being hurt. Badly. Needlessly," one of the contractors said.
During a single aid distribution in June, 37 stun grenades, 22 rubber-and-smoke "scat shall" projectiles and 60 cans of pepper spray were used by contractors, internal communications revealed.
Controversy surrounding the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation
The Gaza Humantarian Foundation (GHF) is a US- and Israeli-backed aid organisation. The foundation has been the subject of almost continuous controversy even before it began aid distribution, when its founding director, Jake Wood, resigned, citing concerns about the organisation's impartiality and effectiveness.
Israel launched a widespread blockade on aid into Gaza in March, which ensured that no food, water, and medicine could enter the Strip. They claimed the militant group Hamas had been stealing aid that was transported under the pre-existing system coordinated by the United Nations.
The UN and other aid organisations denied that Hamas had been siphoning off aid and refused to work with the GHF, arguing that it breaches fundamental humanitarian principles. They also emphasised that, unlike the GHF, their system of aid distribution did not involve armed guards.
International journalists are forbidden by Israel from reporting inside Gaza, therefore the accounts of the two US contractors provide a rare insight into the aid distribution process in Gaza.
The testimonies also stand in stark contrast with what the GHF and its subcontractors have claimed so far.
"Our recruiting and training process is extensive," UG Solution claimed, adding that their application process included thorough "screening by experts, reference checks, background checks and weapons proficiency."
However, the two anonymous contractors claimed that the security personnel hired were often unqualified, unvetted, heavily armed and seemed to have carte blanche to do as they pleased.
They also admitted that it had been an extremely rushed rollout. According to the contractors, some men had only been recruited a few days prior via email, many without combat experience or proper training.
The contractors said none of the men in Israel working for UG Solutions had been tested to see if they could handle a gun safely and the rushed rollout meant not everyone was able to "zero" their weapon, meaning personally adjusting it to ensure proper aim. Military experts warn that not zeroing a weapon poses a significant risk.
Another subcontractor in charge of logistics, Safe Reach Solutions (SRS), allegedly did not provide the staff with rules of engagement until three days after aid distribution started, the contractors claimed.
The draft rules permitted the use of non-lethal weapons in extreme situations on unarmed individuals who are physically violent, and for deadly force to be used, but only if absolutely necessary.
SRS acknowledged that it's dealing with large, hungry populations but said the environment is secure, controlled and they ensure people can access aid safely.
However, an SRS internal report found that aid seekers were injured during a third of the distributions that took place in a two-week period in June.
Since the launch of the GHF, Palestinians have frequently come forward claiming that Israeli troops opened fire at crowds crossing military zones to reach the distribution points. These accounts have been supported by local hospital sources, who reported that hundreds of people have been killed or wounded at or near distribution sites.
The Israeli military says it has only fired warning shots in an effort to control the crowd and has denied it fired directly at aid seekers.
SRS also claimed Hamas had threatened both aid workers and civilians receiving aid but one of the US contractors said he had personally never been threatened by the militant group.
Meanwhile, at least 82 Palestinians were killed overnight into Thursday in Israeli air strikes and shootings, Gaza's Health Ministry said.
That figure includes 38 people who were waiting for humanitarian aid. Five of those were killed outside sites linked to the GHF and 33 others were killed waiting for aid trucks in other locations across the Strip.
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