Guwahati: The United States is reportedly considering imposing sanctions on additional Israeli military and police units over allegations of human rights violations against Palestinian civilians, according to sources familiar with the matter.
This development comes shortly after the Biden administration decided to sanction the Netzah Yehuda battalion, potentially straining relations between the two allies amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vehemently opposed sanctions on any Israeli military unit, declaring, “If anyone thinks they can impose sanctions on a unit of the IDF, I will fight it with all my strength,” as reported by The Times of Israel.
Following a year-long investigation, the US State Department scrutinized Netzah Yehuda and several other units within the Israeli military over allegations of human rights abuses, The Times of Israel reported.
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The Netzah Yehuda battalion has faced previous controversies, including accusations of violence against Palestinians, notably in the case of Omar As’ad, a 78-year-old Palestinian-American who died after being detained by battalion soldiers. He was reportedly found handcuffed, blindfolded, and abandoned in near-freezing conditions.
Speculation suggests that other Western countries may also contemplate imposing sanctions on Israeli military units accused of violence against Palestinians.
If the US proceeds with sanctions on Netzah Yehuda and other battalions, these units would be prohibited from using US military aid to procure weapons. However, Israel could still utilize its resources to purchase weapons for these units, according to a second source.
Despite these developments, the Biden administration has emphasized its disapproval of Israel’s actions in the West Bank while simultaneously passing a $14 billion aid package for the Gaza conflict, highlighting Washington’s ongoing support for Israel despite concerns over the conflict’s aftermath.
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In response to the planned sanctions, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned of setting a “dangerous” precedent and pledged to prevent their imposition. He urged the Israeli defence establishment to emphasize the importance of supporting IDF operations conducted under international law to the American government.
Gallant stressed that vilifying an entire unit would negatively impact the IDF’s efforts to protect Israeli citizens and combat terrorism, emphasizing that harm to one battalion reflects on the entire defence establishment. He called for constructive dialogue with US officials to address concerns.
Israeli Defence Ministry officials confirmed that Gallant had spoken with US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew and was expected to engage in discussions with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
War cabinet minister Benny Gantz also intervened, contacting Blinken to urge reconsideration of the planned sanctions.
He described the sanctions as unjustified and cautioned against actions that could undermine Israel’s legitimacy, particularly during the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza.