An investigation by Haaretz reveals that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office unilaterally appointed the unknown firm SRS to manage humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza—without involving the Ministry of Defense or military command. The move shocked senior defense officials and sidelined the traditional aid coordination body, COGAT.

The firm, presented as American, is reportedly tied to Israeli businessmen and former U.S. intelligence officers. It was chosen without public tender, raising questions about nepotism, security risks, and political maneuvering.

SRS appears linked to Orbis, another opaque company that employed mercenaries in previous conflicts. Staff reportedly began recruitment efforts even before being formally approved, while bypassing vetting by Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet.

A newly formed Swiss-based entity, the “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)”, is supposedly raising funds for SRS’s operations—expected to exceed $200 million in six months, with plans to deploy 1,000 armed guards in Gaza. Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. has acknowledged Israeli involvement in GHF’s founding, despite public denials of direct links.

Multiple sources in the IDF and Ministry of Defense told Haaretz they were unaware of SRS’s selection and were excluded from planning and negotiations. Even basic logistical and security requirements, such as background checks for foreign employees, were allegedly skipped.

Former military officials and private sector figures involved in the decision-making process—including businessman Shlomi Fogel and retired officers close to Netanyahu—are suspected of advancing private or ideological interests under the guise of humanitarian aid.