Security firms employing U.S. military veterans for a controversial food distribution operation in Gaza have exposed them to the risk of criminal charges under U.S. laws against war crimes, torture, and forced deportation, four Democrats in Congress said Thursday.

In a letter to the two firms’ CEOs, Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., and three other lawmakers said they were “horrified” by reporting about the companies’ “deadly” security operations on behalf of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

The members of Congress say that news reports and firsthand witnesses indicated employees for Safe Reach Solutions and UG Solutions were “sent to Gaza armed for combat” and directed by Israeli officials to use lethal force.

“As a result, we are deeply concerned that you may have failed to alert your personnel — or investors — of the immense legal risks they face for conducting what amounts to military operations on behalf of the Israeli government on land outside of the State of Israel,”........

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