US may sanction more IOF units over human rights violations
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In addition to Netzah Yehuda, US officials are reportedly mulling sanctions against other Israeli military and police forces that have allegedly committed human rights violations.
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Israeli occupation forces search for suspected attackers in a ramming operation that wounded three settlers in occupied al-Quds, Monday, April 22, 2024. (AP)
The United States might impose sanctions against units of the Israeli military and police other than the Netzah Yehuda battalion over alleged human rights violations, The Times of Israel reported on Monday citing undisclosed US sources.
Netzah Yehuda is reportedly made up of young, radical Israeli settlers who have not been accepted into other units of the Israeli occupation forces.
On Saturday, Axios reported that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken would announce sanctions against the Netzah Yehuda battalion within days over "alleged human rights violations" in the occupied West Bank before October 7.
US officials mentioned that the unit will be banned from receiving US military aid and training. This would mark the first instance of the United States imposing sanctions on an Israeli military unit, which comes as a surprise, especially since the Israeli occupation forces have been enjoying impunity in Gaza.
The Times of Israel pointed out that the decision to sanction the Netzah Yehuda battalion follows an alleged "comprehensive investigation" conducted by a special US State Department panel, which recommended disqualifying multiple Israeli military and police units operating in the West Bank from receiving aid.
One notable crime involved the martyrdom of 80-year-old Palestinian-American Omar Assad in January 2022. Assad was detained by Netzah Yehuda soldiers at a checkpoint in his village in the occupied West Bank, where he was abused to death.
Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Sunday his staunch opposition to any potential sanctions imposed on Israeli military units.
"If anyone thinks they can impose sanctions on a unit of the [Israeli forces] - I will fight it with all my strength," he underlined in a statement.
On his part, Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir made it clear that imposing sanctions against the Netzah Yehuda battalion would be a "red line."
