Five Israeli Military Units Found Guilty of Human Rights Violations by US State Department
The US State Department has identified five units within the Israeli military responsible for severe breaches of human rights in specific incidents, all occurring outside Gaza before the current conflict. While corrective actions were taken by Israel in four units, the fifth unit remains under scrutiny, although all units continue to be eligible for US military support.
Washington remains a key supporter of Israel’s military endeavors, providing annual assistance of $3.8 billion in weaponry and defense systems. This declaration marks the first time the US government has made such a determination against any Israeli unit.
According to State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel, the violations include gross human rights abuses, with four units having successfully addressed these infractions as per expectations. Discussions are ongoing regarding the fifth unit, with additional information submitted by the Israeli government.
Despite criticisms of political pressure, the State Department asserts that decisions regarding military assistance are made through a thorough process. The incidents in question are believed to have taken place in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem in recent years.
Under the “Leahy Law” of 1997, a finding of gross human rights violations can lead to the termination of US military aid to foreign military units. However, exceptions can be made if the State Department determines that the respective government has taken appropriate measures for justice, known as remediation.
Israel’s actions in four of the units satisfied the requirements for remediation, but details regarding the incidents, remedial actions, and units involved were not disclosed by the department. The decision on the fifth unit was reportedly pending, but new information from Israel has delayed a final determination.
Speculation suggests the Netzah Yehuda battalion as the unit in question, following an incident involving the death of 80-year-old Palestinian-American Omar Assad during a West Bank village search in 2022. While the IDF expressed regret over Assad’s death, the subsequent disciplinary measures did not involve prosecution.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated forthcoming determinations regarding the Leahy Law, prompting responses from Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s vow to resist any sanctions against the military. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and war cabinet minister Benny Gantz engaged in discussions with Blinken on the matter.