US Accuses Israeli Units of Human Rights Violations But Refrains from Sanctions
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The US government identified five Israeli security units for gross human rights violations preceding the recent war on Gaza, yet opted against imposing sanctions or curtailing military support to Israel.
The US government's declaration on Monday marks a precedent, accusing Israeli troops of such transgressions for the first time. These allegations pertain to incidents predating the commencement of Israel's war last October, primarily concentrated in the West Bank, with none linked to Gaza.
Despite a law barring the US from furnishing aid to entities implicated in human rights abuses, all Israeli units remain eligible for American assistance. Vedant Patel, State Department deputy spokesperson, informed Washington reporters that Israel's actions against most accused units ensure compliance with the Leahy Law, refraining from specifying unit names.
Patel stated, “Four of these units have effectively remediated these violations, which is what we expect partners to do,” while consultations with Israeli counterparts continue regarding the fifth unit. The State Department refrained from divulging details on Israel's response.
In response to queries on the delay in disclosing findings, Patel attributed it to an "ongoing process," reiterating the administration's commitment to law adherence and hinting at potential restrictions if remediation efforts fall short of standards.
Media sources have reported instances such as extrajudicial killings by Israeli border police, along with torture and rape. Notable among these was the case of an elderly Palestinian-American man who died after being restrained at a West Bank checkpoint by the Netzah Yehuda battalion, initially stationed in the West Bank before its transfer to the occupied Golan Heights in 2022.
Amid the Israeli war on Gaza, killing over 34,500 Palestinians, Israeli forces face heightened global condemnation. The International Court of Justice issued a ruling in January saying it was “plausible” that Israeli forces had committed acts of genocide in Gaza.
Also demonstrators at US universities are sparring in condemnation of the Israeli genocidal war and its mounting death toll, as the number of arrests at US campuses is approaching 1,000 as the final days of class wrap up. The outcry is forcing colleges to reckon with their financial ties to Israel, as well as their support for free speech.