US security contractors head to Gaza to oversee truce, vehicle inspections

US security contractors have been enlisted to oversee the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza under a new cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

The contractors are tasked with inspecting vehicles travelling from southern Gaza for weapons, as part of a broader effort to secure the Netzarim Corridor, which divides the region in two, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s Prime Minister, has insisted that no armed fighters will be allowed back into northern Gaza. Mediators, including Qatar, Egypt, and the US, have negotiated the cease-fire, which began on January 19 and is in its fifth day.

Safe Reach Solutions, one of the companies involved, will oversee operational management, while other firms will conduct the inspections. “The goal is to ensure the safe return of civilians while preventing the re-entry of armed fighters,” said an official familiar with the arrangements.

However, the timeline for implementing the vehicle checks remains uncertain, with some officials predicting a delay of weeks.

Meanwhile, Gaza's displaced residents, many living in harsh conditions, have expressed hope of returning to their homes, though it remains unclear how many properties remain intact after months of conflict.

By Aghakazim Guliyev