As thousands of Gaza residents move back north, US security firm takes over vehicle inspections

As the ceasefire in Gaza continues, and with the opening of the Netzarim Corridor to northbound traffic on Monday, a group of U.S. and Egyptian security contractors are reportedly carrying out inspections of vehicles moving into northern Gaza. 

The contractors are there to ensure that no weapons are brought into the northern Gaza Strip, to prevent Hamas from re-arming and re-establishing itself there. 

A BBC report said the screening process for vehicles involves several steps: 

First, the vehicles are required to wait at a Hamas-run police checkpoint about 300 meters (985 feet) away from the inspection point. 

When vehicles are given permission to proceed into the inspection area, they must pass through scanners and a visual inspection by the U.S. and Egyptian security contractors. This process can take 40 minutes per vehicle. 

A group of IDF soldiers monitors the process from a distance, but does not carry out the inspections. 

According to the BBC article, "Current participants in the consortium include Safe Reach Solutions (SRS), a strategic planning and logistics company; UG Solutions, a globally trusted provider of integrated security solutions; and an Egyptian security company, reflecting a diverse and international composition.” 

A report in the Times of Israel claimed that a mix of U.S. security contractors wearing “dark fatigues” were inspecting the vehicles, while Egyptian security contractors interacted with the Palestinians moving northward. 

The Hamas-affiliated Quds Network reported that the x-ray scanners used to inspect each vehicle were installed as part of a Qatari-Egyptian partnership. 

IDF Arabic Spokesman Colonel Avichay Adraee on Tuesday shared a video clip from the Qatari-owned Al Jazeera network, in which a Gaza resident slams Hamas before quickly being cut off by the reporter.

"No matter how much it terrorizes them and shows off its fake popularity in front of the cameras, this is the voice of the people of Gaza about the driving force Hamas," Adraee stated, before calling on Al Jazeera to "Fear God! And have mercy on the people of Gaza from your poisons, incitement and distortion of the truth."

أحد سكان غزة جلد مجرمي #حماس على الهواء مباشرة في قناة الجزيرة لكن كالعادة هذا البوق التحريضي لا يسمح بآراء تكذب كذبة الانتصار المزعوم…

مهما أرهبتهم واستعرضت شعبيتها المزيفة أمام الكاميرات هذا هو صوت سكان غزة عن حماس المحركة.

تقول المقولة: "الإعلام المضلل ليس غبي بل هو واثق… pic.twitter.com/cdQIhSZQIn

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) January 28, 2025

Despite the ongoing ceasefire, Israeli forces did fire on a number of suspects attempting to breach security barriers or endangering Israeli soldiers, the IDF reported. 

The military said that in a number of areas in the Gaza Strip, several suspects were identified approaching IDF troops and posing a threat to them. The troops fired warning shots to distance the suspects. 

Meanwhile, in northern Gaza, soldiers identified a suspect who posed a threat to them and fired warning shots to distance him. The suspect did not move away, and since he continued to pose a threat to the troops, additional shots were fired. The military did not say if the suspect was hit. 

Moreover, in central Gaza, an IDF aircraft fired warning shots at a number of suspicious vehicles attempting to move northward in an area that is not authorized for passage according to the agreement, and without inspection, in violation of the terms of the agreement. The vehicles were stopped. 

The military also fired on a tractor which was attempting to remove security barriers placed to prevent unauthorized northward movement near Nuseirat. 

“The IDF is determined to fully maintain the terms of the agreement in order to return the hostages,” the IDF Spokesperson said in a statement.

“The IDF is prepared for any scenario and will continue to take any necessary actions to thwart any immediate threat to IDF soldiers. The IDF calls the residents of Gaza to follow its announcements and avoid approaching the troops deployed in the area.”