American security contractors are set to assist in the safe return of displaced Palestinians to the northern Gaza Strip as part of a newly brokered cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. This development follows the evacuation order that forced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee south during the early stages of the conflict. According to four anonymous officials, these contractors will provide security oversight mainly at the Netzarim corridor, a crucial zone dividing Gaza, by checking vehicles for weapons as Gazans return north.
The cease-fire, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, is currently in its fifth day and is scheduled to see Israeli troops partially withdraw over the weekend. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously stressed that the return of armed fighters to northern Gaza would not be permitted, necessitating negotiations to balance security concerns with Hamas's withdrawal conditions.
Notably, those traveling on foot to return home will be allowed to do so without inspection, based on an annex of the cease-fire agreement seen by The New York Times. The private contractors are expected to begin their screening operations by Saturday, bringing a new sense of order to the ongoing efforts.
