US contractor wanted for humanitarian operation in Gaza — UN need not apply

Applicants must be able to lift up to 50 pounds (22.6 kilograms) unassisted, be U.S. citizens, have experience in conflict or emergency settings, speak multiple languages — preferably Arabic — and have experience in humanitarian aid organizations or United Nations agencies. Location: Middle East.

These are some of the requirements listed in a recent job posting by Safe Reach Solutions (SRS), a company registered in Wyoming in November 2024 by former military officer and ex-CIA agent Philip Reilly. SRS is one of the firms operating under the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), distributing aid in Gaza independently of U.N. channels. The initiative is Israeli-designed and U.S.-executed, involving a network of contractors with extensive experience in Iraq and Afghanistan.

On Monday, three weeks after Israel’s security cabinet approved the new aid mechanism for the Gaza Strip, GHF began procedures to supply food and hygiene materials. According to a statement from the Geneva-registered foundation, effective delivery commenced on Tuesday, with involvement from Armenian financier David Papazian and U.S. lawyer Loik Henderson, a board member.

Israel’s objective is to control food distribution to prevent, in its view, supplies from reaching the Palestinian militia Hamas. The method — utilizing four fixed distribution points — has been criticized by the United Nations due to the risks involved. Safe Reach Solutions (SRS), specializing in operations in high-risk areas, is executing this plan with support from U.S. private security firm UG Solutions, led by former Green Beret Jameson Govoni.

Once again, as in past conflicts including those in Gaza, the U.S. is deploying its robust private security apparatus. Memories persist of the 2003 incident in Gaza where three DynCorp employees, protecting a U.S. diplomatic convoy, were killed by an improvised explosive device.

However, the new Israeli mechanism got off to a rocky start. On its launch day, GHF’s head, former Marine Jake Wood — known for his humanitarian crisis expertise following a decorated sniper career — resigned, citing the mission’s lack of neutrality and impartiality. He has been succeeded by John Acree, who brings extensive experience from projects in Costa Rica to Afghanistan with USAID, the U.S. development agency that U.S. President Donald Trump wants to dismantle.

Acree was mentioned in a 14-page document leaked to the press titled “GHF: Safe, Transparent Aid for Gaza.” In that document — essentially a project pitch for the Gaza operation — Acree was listed as mission chief. It also listed Nate Mook, former CEO of World Central Kitchen, the NGO led by Spanish chef José Andrés, as head of the foundation. But, when contacted by EL PAÍS, Mook said he is not involved in the project and described the document as a draft in which someone had simply inserted his name. This mistake is a reflection of the erratic and opaque trajectory of the Israeli-devised aid mechanism, particularly when it comes to funding.

“On-site and perimeter security,” the GHF release stated, “will be provided by experienced professionals, including personnel who previously secured the Netzarim Corridor during the recent ceasefire.”

These contractors are employed by SRS and UG Solutions, both of which were indeed deployed during the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that lasted from January to March of this year. Their assignment was to secure the strategic crossing along the Salah al-Din route. There were no major incidents, aside from the seizure of some weapons at the checkpoint.

In a post on its LinkedIn page, SRS said it was able to “quickly mobilize” to support that phase of the ceasefire, which was ultimately broken by the Israeli military. In the note, the company led by Philip Reilly thanked Sentinel Foundation — also founded by Govoni — for donating water and oranges.

Reilly is a seasoned expert in warfare and plays a key role in the GHF mission. After serving in the special forces, he spent 29 years in various roles at the CIA. He was one of the first agents to set foot in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks, tasked with launching the hunt for Osama bin Laden. He would later go on to lead the agency’s office in Kabul. According to reporting by The New York Times, Reilly began working in late 2024 — together with Israeli military officials — on developing new models of aid delivery through private companies and foundations, via the intelligence firm Orbis Operations. That is precisely what now appears to be taking shape inside Gaza.

GHF’s initial goal is to distribute food and hygiene supplies to 1.2 million Palestinians at four fixed locations across the Gaza Strip. SRS is responsible for logistics, while UG Solutions — which has been operating for a couple of years under the leadership of Govoni — handles security. Public information on UG Solutions is scarce. Its website, minimalist and sparse like many in the private security sector, includes a section titled “Current Programs” with a brief description: “Delivering humanitarian aid in high risk environments.” The most recent job posting seeks “highly skilled security professionals with combat experience” to provide protection for humanitarian operations.

After serving in the special forces, Govoni — who has experience in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan — has led several projects, both nonprofit and commercial. Among the most recent is the Sentinel Foundation, which, prior to supporting the mission in the Netzarim Corridor, participated in an operation in Haiti during the height of violence between criminal groups, helping to evacuate a group of 59 children with special needs in coordination with other organizations. According to LinkedIn statistics, the number of UG Solutions employees has increased by 300% over the past six months.

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