U.S.Logistics Firm Arkel International Linked to Gaza Aid Operations Amidst Massacre Allegations

Baltimore, MD – July 31, 2024 – A U.S.-based logistics and construction company, Arkel International LLC, is facing scrutiny following reports linking it to aid delivery operations in Gaza that have been described by humanitarian organizations as possibly facilitating attacks on Palestinian civilians. The company, headquartered in Baltimore, maryland, is a subcontractor for Global Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a non-governmental institution (NGO) coordinating aid deliveries into the besieged territory.

Haaretz reported this week that Arkel International LLC, alongside And Solutions and Safe Reach Solutions, is contracted by GHF to manage the logistical aspects of aid distribution. Arkel’s role specifically involves overseeing the transportation of supplies via trucks to designated distribution points within Gaza, with these convoys reportedly escorted by Israeli forces.

Humanitarian groups have voiced concerns that GHF’s operations,and by extension those of its subcontractors like Arkel,are being exploited by Israel to concentrate Palestinian civilians in specific locations under the guise of humanitarian assistance,only to subject them to violence. These allegations stem from incidents where aid distribution sites have been targeted by Israeli military strikes, resulting in important civilian casualties. Specifically, the April 1st, 2024 strike on a World Central Kitchen convoy, which killed seven aid workers, has fueled broader concerns about the safety of humanitarian operations in Gaza and the potential for deliberate targeting.

Arkel International LLC was founded in 2011 by Robert H. Clark, jr., and specializes in logistics, construction management, and procurement services, primarily serving U.S. federal government contracts, including projects with the Department of Defense and USAID. The company’s website (https://arkelinternational.com/) details its experience in complex logistical environments, including conflict zones.

GHF,established in 2010,has faced previous criticism regarding its clarity and operational practices. Democracy Now! reported on July 29th, 2024, highlighting accusations against GHF and its founder, Anthony Aguilar, of potential war crimes related to the handling of aid deliveries in Gaza. The organization’s financial records and the specifics of its funding sources remain largely opaque.

The involvement of U.S. firms like Arkel international in Gaza’s aid infrastructure raises questions about the level of due diligence conducted to ensure that humanitarian assistance is not inadvertently contributing to harm. The ongoing conflict in Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, has resulted in over 35,000 Palestinian deaths and widespread displacement, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The United Nations and numerous international organizations have warned of a looming famine in Gaza, exacerbated by restrictions on aid access and the destruction of infrastructure.

Israel is reportedly altering its legal framework in the West Bank to expedite the annexation of Palestinian territories, according to a recent report. This strategic shift aims to solidify Israeli control and expand Jewish settlements while diminishing the Palestinian presence.

Hagai El-Ad, executive director of B’Tselem (in Hebrew), told Mondoweiss that the methods used to displace Palestinians in Jerusalem are consistent with those observed in Gaza and the West Bank. He stated that “violent control is granted to those willing to advance the state’s agenda of expanding Jewish presence and diminishing Palestinian presence.” B’Tselem’s work, as documented in their newsletter, highlights home demolitions, evictions, and discriminatory housing and land confiscation policies.

Miller further elaborated that these actions collectively contribute to the “accelerating erasure of the Palestinian people from their own cities, neighborhoods, and lands.” He attributes this to the complicity of a “radicalized Israeli public” and the international community’s “persistent refusal to take meaningful action.”

Dr. Bishara of Adalah expressed hope that their report,intended for advocates,stakeholders,and governments,will “generate international pressure against these long-term changes in the West Bank that violate international law and threaten the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.”