In a new development, The Telegraph reported that former British special forces may soon be deployed to Gaza to help create “closed zones” free from Hamas. The proposal suggests that Israel, alongside private military companies, could establish so-called “safe zones” aimed at restricting Hamas and delivering aid, while further entrenching control over Gaza’s besieged population.
According to Israeli media, Israeli-American businessman Mordechai “Moti” Kahana, owner of the delivery company GDC, is expected to secure a $200 million contract for this venture. The project aims to divide Gaza into monitored, fenced-off zones where movement is controlled by GDC in cooperation with an unnamed British security firm employing former British special forces.
Controlled Zones and Surveillance Tactics
Kahana explained that movement between these “bubbles” will be restricted and fully overseen by GDC and a private British security firm. He issued a warning to Gaza’s residents, saying, “Don’t mess with us. They will understand that there’s a new boss in town,” emphasizing that these foreign forces “know how to fight terrorism.”
The planned “closed zones” would operate as secured compounds surrounded by fences or barriers, where only “authorized” residents can enter or exit under the tight watch of private security contractors. Kahana has refused to name the British security firm involved until the contract is signed, raising questions about the true intentions behind this military-corporate venture.
The Role of GDC and Its Partners: Echoes of Blackwater
GDC, which has previously collaborated with Constellis, a company that absorbed the notorious Blackwater known for its brutal actions in Iraq, is set to lead operations. Constellis, through its British subsidiary Olive, is one of the largest military-style private security firms in the U.K. This partnership raises serious concerns about the militarization of humanitarian aid in Gaza and the role of profit-driven entities in a context already rife with suffering and occupation.
GDC defended its methods, stating, “Highly trained private security is the only realistic way to deliver aid to Gaza.” The company claims that its personnel are trained to manage crowds with “non-lethal” techniques, using deadly force only as a last resort. However, such justifications overlook the glaring reality: these forces aim to enforce a system that restricts Palestinians’ freedom and subjects them to invasive scrutiny.
Escalating Militarization and NGOs’ Retreat
For the past six months, Israel has pushed to involve private military contractors in Gaza. Numerous NGOs and humanitarian organizations have significantly scaled back or ceased operations due to increasing attacks on aid convoys, warehouses, and shelters. Even the United Nations and other international agencies have been forced to limit activities amid intensified fighting.
Israel has also rejected any assistance from the Palestinian Authority, raising further questions about its motives. The Israeli blockade, now in its second week of October, has drawn substantial international criticism, putting pressure on Israel to resume humanitarian support. Nevertheless, collaborating with Kahana and private security contractors presents enormous financial and ethical risks.
Kahana’s “Humanitarian” Vision: A Biometric Surveillance State
Kahana’s so-called humanitarian initiative includes a disturbing reliance on biometrics, with plans for Gaza residents to undergo fingerprint or retinal scans to determine whether they are “terrorists.” This Orwellian approach, which treats Palestinians as suspects by default, strips them of basic freedoms and autonomy, while justifying harsh controls under the guise of aid.
Kahana went as far as to claim on social media that “terrorists will face bullets.” When asked about his plans for Gaza’s “closed communities,” Kahana described them as being “like Miami, but without a golf course or pool,” attempting to sanitize what many view as a confinement scheme designed to isolate and control the Palestinian population.
A Step Toward Normalizing Occupation?
These “closed zones” serve as a means of rebranding Gaza’s occupation, packaging it as a “humanitarian” project managed by foreign mercenaries and corporate interests. The establishment of these zones represents yet another attempt to suppress the Palestinian struggle for liberation, casting a heavy shadow over Gaza’s already strained social fabric.
The involvement of former British special forces and companies linked to entities like Blackwater reflects a broader, dangerous trend: foreign actors supporting Israel’s military objectives while masking them under humanitarian pretenses. Palestinians have endured years of occupation, blockades, and displacement, and initiatives like these add layers of control that serve only to deepen the crisis and obscure the genuine call for Palestinian rights and self-determination.
This latest move is a stark reminder of the Western hands actively involved in sustaining the Israeli occupation’s agenda and disregarding Palestinian sovereignty, all under the banner of security and aid delivery. The situation in Gaza demands a commitment to genuine peace and justice, not foreign mercenaries and corporate profiteering at the expense of the Palestinian people.
