Boston Consulting Group was involved in a controversial project aimed at “relocating” Palestinians from Gaza, according to a recent investigation by the Financial Times. The consulting firm was contracted to assist in launching an aid scheme for Gaza, which was supported by Israel and the US. However, the project faced criticism and was disavowed by BCG after the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians and the dismissal of two partners.
The project, known as “Aurora,” involved extensive work over seven months and cost over $4 million. BCG’s team, consisting of more than a dozen staff members, worked on various aspects of the project, including building a financial model for the postwar reconstruction of Gaza. One scenario explored the costs and economic impact of relocating hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the enclave.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), established with BCG’s assistance, operates distribution sites in Gaza with the involvement of US private security contractors and Israeli forces. The foundation has been criticized for its militarized approach to aid distribution, with the UN describing it as a “fig leaf” for Israeli war aims.
BCG’s involvement in the project was more extensive than initially disclosed, with the firm providing business planning for GHF and its security provider, Safe Reach Solutions. The project also involved discussions about funding sources and operational logistics.
Despite BCG’s efforts to distance itself from the project and terminate the involvement of the two partners responsible, questions remain about the firm’s role in the controversial initiative. The decision to pull out of the project and launch an investigation into the process failures reflects BCG’s commitment to accountability and ethical standards.
Moving forward, BCG aims to learn from this experience and ensure that similar situations do not occur in the future. The firm remains dedicated to contributing to effective and sustainable humanitarian responses while upholding its values of integrity and transparency.
