M4 rifles and Glock pistols armed US contractors for checkpoint duty
Among the risks facing the Americans are gunfights with Islamist militants or Palestinians angry over Washington's support for Israel's Gaza offensive
Avi Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence official, said:
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"Of course there is a threat they will face"
The document said the contractors will be armed with M4 rifles, which are used by the Israeli and US militaries and Glock pistols
The rules of engagement governing when UG Solutions personnel can open fire have been finalized, the spokesperson said but he declined to disclose them
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"We have the right to defend ourselves"
He declined to discuss how the company won the contract
A Palestinian official close to the talks confirmed US contractors would also be at checkpoints, 1. at the intersection of the Netzarim Corridor dividing northern and southern Gaza 2. and Salah al-Din Street, which separates the east and west of the enclave
However the official said the US contractors would be deployed away from residents passing through and they must not deal with the local population The UG Solutions email said,
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its primary mission was "internal vehicle checkpoint management and vehicle inspection" "We're only focused on vehicles"
The Israeli prime minister's office declined to provide any further comment on the security arrangements The US State Department, Egypt's foreign office and Hamas did not immediately respond to requests for comment
