The United States is considering imposing sanctions on one or more Israeli camps accused of human rights abuses during operations in the occupied West Bank, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Israeli leaders including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday called the possibility of the Biden administration imposing such sanctions at a time when Israeli troops are fighting Hamas in Gaza as “the pinnacle of absurdity and morality.” Low point”.Mr Netanyahu said on social media postal His government would “use all means” to oppose any such move.
Regarding possible sanctions, Axios earlier reportedcame just one day later House approves $26 billion Provide aid to Israel and provide humanitarian aid to civilians in conflict zones, including Gaza. If sanctions are imposed, they will not impede the military aid Congress has just approved.
Possible sanctions against Netzah Yehuda and other battalions would fall under the so-called 1997 sanctions Lexi Lawbans foreign military units accused of human rights abuses from receiving U.S. assistance or training.
It’s unclear what actual impact any sanctions might have, since it’s difficult to track funding for specific Israeli forces and the units in question receive no U.S. training. But such punitive steps would clearly be painful, especially from Israel’s closest allies.
Netzah Yehuda Accused of violence against Palestinians In the past, the West Bank was established for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men, whose strict religious observances required the separation of men and women. The battalion also attracted other Orthodox soldiers, including hardline nationalists from the settler movement in the West Bank.
One of the most shocking incidents at Camp Netzah Yehuda involved A 78-year-old Palestinian-American man dies In January 2022, he was detained, gagged and handcuffed by members of the force during a nighttime raid in his village.
one autopsy The man, Omar Abdelmajed Assad, died from stress heart disease caused by injuries sustained while in custody, according to the information. An investigation by Israel’s military justice system found flaws in the behavior of the soldiers involved, who the army said “behaved in a manner inconsistent with the requirements and expectations of Israeli soldiers.”
israeli military Disciplinary action against three unit commanders After investigation. But the military said at the time that no criminal charges were filed against the soldiers because it had found no causal link between Assad’s death and the soldiers’ misconduct.
The Biden administration has been warning Israel as settler violence against Palestinians and anti-settlement activists continues to rise in the occupied West Bank. Imposition of financial and travel sanctions exist Several people Recently, two grassroots organizations raised funds for some of them.
Benny Gantz, a centrist member of Netanyahu’s war cabinet and a former military adviser, said imposing sanctions on Israeli military units would set “a dangerous precedent.”
Just hours after Israeli officials issued a blistering condemnation welcome this bipartisan vote Congressional approval of billions of dollars in aid to Israel underscores the recent volatility and conflict in the relationship between President Biden and Mr. Netanyahu.
Mr Biden blames Mr Netanyahu over civilian deaths in Gaza, though come to the aid of israel repelled an Iranian attack this month and provided weapons used in the war in Gaza.
Biden has faced criticism and anger for months, even from some members of his own party, for supporting Israel’s war in Gaza, as the death toll there continues to climb and any sanctions against Israeli forces could be viewed as sanctions against Israel. A balancing force. According to Gaza health officials, more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in the six months of war.
Mick Mulroy, a former CIA official and senior Pentagon official, said such sanctions against a close ally like Israel were unusual and so “it should send a message.”
Nathan Odenheimer and Gabby Sobelman Contributed reporting.
