A US biker gang with a reputation for islamophobia has allegedly been hired to guard the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid sites in the Gaza Strip, according to a BBC investigation published in early September.
The biker gang has allegedly been hired to work as armed security, BBC News concluded after reporting it had confirmed the identities of 10 members of the Infidels Motorcycle Club.
The gang was reportedly hired to guard UG Solutions, a private contractor providing security at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites, where Hamas has targeted numerous aid workers.
Seven of the 10 identified members are reportedly in senior positions at the sites, which UGS told BBC News that "personal hobbies or affiliations unrelated to job performance" were not considered in the screening process used to hire people for the role.
In response to the report, GHF defended itself, stating that it had a "zero-tolerance policy for any hateful, discriminatory biases or conduct."
Infidel MC originally set up by US military veterans after Iraq war
The Infidels MC was originally set up by US military veterans after the war in Iraq in 2006. The members reportedly perceive themselves as modern-day Crusaders, hence the use of the Crusader cross on their vests.
Known for their hate speech against Muslims, the gang has hosted a number of counter-cultural events. The group reportedly held a pig roast “in defiance of” Ramadan.
"Putting the Infidels biker club in charge of delivering humanitarian aid in Gaza is like putting the KKK in charge of delivering humanitarian aid in Sudan. It makes no sense whatsoever," Edward Ahmed Mitchell, deputy director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), told BBC News. "It's bound to lead to violence, and that's exactly what we've seen happen in Gaza."
BBC News later saw an email from the gang's leader, Johnny "Taz" Mulford, instructing members not to respond to requests for comment, after Mulford reportedly mistakenly pressed “reply all” to respond to an email.
The British paper reported that in addition to Mulford, Infidel MC Vice-President Larry "J-Rod" Jarrett, gang treasurer Bill "Saint" Siebe, and founding member Richard "A-Tracker" Lofton are working in the Gaza Strip.
Ahead of shipping off to Gaza, Mulford reportedly launched a quiet appeal on Facebook for veterans who "can still shoot, move, and communicate" to apply for the work.
An estimate by a former contractor led the BBC to conclude that Infidel MC recruited 40 of the 320 people hired by UGS.
Senior members of the security team are paid up to $1,580 per day by UGS, according to documents seen by the BBC.
UGS defended the hiring of Mulford in a statement, insisting he is a "trusted and respected figure."
"We stand by his reputation, record, and his contributions to the success of complex missions," the company said. "We do not screen for personal hobbies or affiliations unrelated to job performance or security standards. Every team member undergoes comprehensive background checks, and only qualified, vetted individuals are deployed on UG Solutions operations.”