Former U.S. Special Ops: What I Saw in Gaza | Sen. Bernie Sanders

Summary

Tony Aguilar, a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and Green Beret, shares a deeply troubling account of his time in Gaza as a contractor under the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. He describes how the distribution of humanitarian aid was marred by chaos, violence, and neglect, with Palestinian civilians suffering through dangerous conditions to receive aid. Aguilar witnesses deadly incidents, including shootings and the use of stun grenades, and expresses his moral outrage at the lack of support for the people. Ultimately, he leaves the mission after his concerns are ignored, emphasizing that U.S. taxpayer funds are being misused in the process.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker, Tony Aguilar, is a retired Lieutenant Colonel and Green Beret with 25 years of service in the United States Army, including multiple combat deployments.
• 😀 Aguilar was contracted by UG Solutions to work on a humanitarian mission in Gaza, where he witnessed and became involved in the distribution of aid to Palestinians.
• 😀 The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) controlled all aspects of the aid distribution process, including delivery schedules, amounts, and the manner in which aid was given.
• 😀 The distribution sites were chaotic, with people fighting for aid in conditions likened to a 'hunger games' scenario, leaving vulnerable groups like children, women, and the disabled without access to aid.
• 😀 Aggressive tactics, including shooting, pepper spraying, and using tear gas, were employed against people trying to access aid, creating dangerous and inhumane conditions.
• 😀 Aguilar personally witnessed contractors using weapons, such as firing into crowds and throwing stun grenades, leading to deaths and injuries among the Palestinian people.
• 😀 On May 29th, a contractor opened fire on a crowd, and another witnessed a Palestinian man fall to the ground, seemingly dead, after being shot.
• 😀 On June 2nd, a stun grenade thrown by a contractor killed a Palestinian woman, who was then removed from the site on a donkey cart, indicating the severity of the violence.
• 😀 Despite warnings from Aguilar and other contractors about the danger of the distribution sites, no significant changes were made, and on July 16th, 20 Palestinians were killed at a distribution site in Kanunas.
• 😀 Aguilar emphasizes that the aid distribution process is not aligned with American values, and that U.S. taxpayers are funding actions that are contributing to the suffering of Palestinians.
• 😀 After witnessing continued violence and the failure of leadership to make necessary changes, Aguilar terminated his contract and returned to the U.S., citing a moral threshold he could no longer ignore.

Q & A

What motivated Tony Aguilar to share his story about the humanitarian mission in Gaza?

Tony Aguilar was motivated to share his story because he felt that the distribution of aid in Gaza was not aligned with American values, and he believed that the public needed to know the truth about the situation. He also felt morally obligated as an American citizen and a retired military officer.

What role did Tony Aguilar play in the humanitarian aid mission in Gaza?

Tony Aguilar served as a contractor with UG Solutions, providing security for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation during the aid distribution. His mission was to support the distribution of food and other supplies to the people of Gaza.

How did the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) control the aid distribution process?

The IDF controlled every aspect of the aid distribution process, including the sites, the timing of deliveries, the types of aid given, and the duration of time spent at each distribution site. They also provided guidance to contractors on how the aid should be delivered.

What was the condition of the aid distribution process as described by Tony Aguilar?

The aid distribution process was described as chaotic and dangerous, with little organization. The scene was likened to 'the Hunger Games,' where only the fastest and fittest Palestinians were able to receive aid, leaving vulnerable individuals like children, women, and the disabled without food or assistance.

What violent actions did contractors take against Palestinians during aid distribution?

Contractors used excessive force against Palestinians, including shooting at them, using pepper spray and tear gas, and firing rubber bullets. There were incidents where contractors intentionally shot into crowds, resulting in fatalities.

What specific incidents of violence did Tony Aguilar witness during his time in Gaza?

Tony Aguilar witnessed multiple violent incidents, including a contractor shooting into a crowd at a distribution site, causing a Palestinian man to fall to the ground and likely die. He also saw a contractor throw a stun grenade into a crowd, which hit a woman in the head, causing her death.

What were the conditions like for the Palestinians trying to access aid in Gaza?

The Palestinians had to travel long distances on foot, through active war zones, often without shoes or proper clothing. They were starving and lacked access to water. In some cases, they had to carry dead children who had died from starvation.

How did the aid distribution system contribute to the deaths of Palestinians?

The aid distribution system was inefficient and poorly managed, which led to chaos and violence at the distribution sites. Inadequate food and resources, along with the use of force, contributed to the deaths of Palestinians, including the deaths of 20 individuals in a trampling incident.

What was the role of American taxpayers in the aid distribution process?

American taxpayers were funding the aid distribution efforts through their tax dollars. Tony Aguilar emphasized that Americans were complicit in the situation, as their taxes were being used for a system that failed to properly assist the Palestinians in Gaza.

Why did Tony Aguilar leave the humanitarian mission in Gaza?

Tony Aguilar left the mission because he witnessed repeated instances of inappropriate use of force and leadership negligence. When his concerns and recommendations were ignored, he crossed a moral threshold and decided to terminate his contract and return home.