The US state department has recently issued a statement accusing five units of the Israeli military of gross violations of human rights in individual incidents that occurred outside of Gaza. Despite this, the US will continue to provide military backing to these units. Israel took corrective action in four units, offering additional information on the fifth to retain eligibility for US military assistance, as Washington remains a major military supporter of Israel, providing billions of dollars worth of weapons and defense systems annually.
This announcement marks the first time the US government has made such a determination against any Israeli unit. State Department spokesman Vedant Patel stated that five security forces units had committed gross violations of human rights, with four units having effectively addressed and remediated these violations, as expected of partners. The fifth unit is still under consultations and engagements with the Israeli government, and Washington denies accusations of political pressure influencing their decision to maintain military support to the unit despite accountability concerns.
The incidents in question are believed to have occurred in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, with the Leahy Law guiding the US response to foreign military units committing gross violations of human rights. This law allows for the withholding of US military assistance unless the involved government takes appropriate steps to address and rectify the violations. Israel reportedly remediated the violations in four units but provided no specific details regarding incidents, remediation measures, or units involved.
The unit at risk of losing US military aid is rumored to be the Netzah Yehuda battalion, a specialized men-only unit linked to the death of Palestinian-American Omar Assad during a 2022 village search. Despite calls for a criminal investigation and accountability, the IDF regretted Assad’s death and imposed internal disciplinary actions instead of prosecution. Secretary of State Antony Blinken hinted at forthcoming determinations that would possibly include sanctions on the battalion under the Leahy Law.
Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, have vowed to resist any sanctions on the military. The US government remains in consultation with Israel and has deferred a decision on military aid to the fifth unit. The situation continues to evolve as both countries navigate the delicate balance between human rights accountability and military support.
