Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted his opposition to any potential sanctions on Israel’s military following a media report that Washington was considering implementing such measures in light of allegations of human rights violations by Israel.
According to Axios, the proposed sanctions apply specifically to Israel’s Netzah Yehuda battalion, which operates in the West Bank. According to the April 20 article, three U.S. sources with knowledge of the issue informed the outlet that Washington was planning to implement the measures, however, reportedly without the Israeli military’s knowledge. The Israeli military said it was unaware of such measures.
“If anyone thinks they can impose sanctions on a unit of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces)—I will fight it with all my strength,” Mr. Netanyahu said in a statement.
The United States announced on April 19 that it would apply a series of sanctions primarily linked to Israeli settlers in the West Bank, in what can be described as growing discontent by the United States with Mr. Netanyahu’s policies. The prime minister’s coalition is heavily reliant on settler parties.
Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz, previously chief of Israel’s armed forces, issued a statement on April 21 in which he said that he had spoken with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, asking him to reconsider the matter.
According to the State Department, Mr. Blinken had a dialogue with both Mr. Gantz and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, in which he discussed Israel’s security, as well as an increased flow of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza in addition to a need for an immediate ceasefire.
No mention of sanctions was made during the dialogue, the State Department said.
Mr. Gantz highlighted the fallacy of any potential sanctions, describing them as harmful and unjustified in light of Israel’s independent justice system and military, which operates within the boundaries of international law. Moreover, such sanctions would also jeopardize Israel’s legitimacy during a time of war.
Mr. Blinken said on April 19, he had made “determinations” regarding accusations that Israel violated a set of U.S. laws that prohibit providing military assistance to individuals or security force units that commit gross violations of human rights.
According to a report by investigative news organization Pro Publica, recommendations for disqualifying several Israeli military and police units from receiving U.S. aid were made months ago by a special State Department panel known as the Israel Leahy Vetting Forum over allegations of human rights violations.
The incidents related to the allegations reportedly occurred prior to the Oct. 7 attack, according to the outlet, and no immediate action was allegedly taken by Mr. Blinken at the time, despite reported incidents of violence preceding the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The allegations go back as far as 2022 when a Netzah Yehuda’s battalion commander was reprimanded, and two officers were dismissed after they were accused of causing the death of a 78-year-old Palestinian-American, Omar Assad, who suffered a heart attack while detained in the West Bank.
While a Palestinian-led autopsy found that Mr. Assad’s death was stress-induced, Israeli military prosecutors decided against pursuing criminal charges, as no link between the soldiers’ actions and Mr. Assad’s death could be established.
Israel, meanwhile, is facing accusations of frequent raids in the West Bank. However, according to its military, the Netzah Yehuda battalion operates according to the principles of international law.
“Following publications about sanctions against the battalion, the IDF is not aware of the issue,” the military said. “If a decision is made on the matter it will be reviewed. The IDF works and will continue to work to investigate any unusual event in a practical manner and according to law.”
NTD has reached out to the State Department for comment but did not hear back by press time.
Reuters contributed to this article.
