The United States is expected to announce sanctions against a unit of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) over alleged human rights violations against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, Axio news website reported on Saturday. It would mark the first time the Biden administration has taken action against Israeli military forces.
Camp Neza Yehuda has been embroiled in controversy in the past for its right-wing extremism and violence against Palestinians. It also included the death of 78-year-old Palestinian-American Omar As’ad, who died after being detained by battalion soldiers. He was handcuffed, blindfolded and later found abandoned in near-freezing conditions, The Times of Israel reported.
The planned U.S. action did not go down well with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called the action “absolutely ridiculous and morally low.”
“Sanctions must not be imposed on the IDF! In recent weeks, I have been opposing sanctions on Israeli citizens, including in conversations with senior US government officials,” he wrote on Twitter.
“The intention to impose sanctions on a unit of the Israel Defense Forces at a time when our soldiers are fighting a terrorist monster is extremely absurd and morally low. The government headed by me will use all means to oppose these moves,” he said.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said that “imposing sanctions on the soldiers of Neza Yehuda is a red line.” Gervail called the Axios report “serious” and said he did not expect Defense Secretary Yoav Galant to give in to U.S. directives.
He said if the Israeli Defense Ministry did not take steps to support the battalion, he would ask them to merge it with the country’s border police.
Netzah Yehuda is a largely ultra-Orthodox infantry unit composed only of military personnel who are free to serve the unit without compromising their faith. Troops are not allowed to interact with female soldiers and are given extra time for religious study and prayer.
Israel withdrew the unit from the West Bank in December 2022, and has since served mainly in the northern region of the country. However, the Jewish state has denied reports that the battalion was moved due to the behavior of the soldiers.
Under the Leahy Act, Neza Yehuda soldiers will not be able to train with U.S. troops or participate in any U.S.-funded activities, Axios reported, citing sources. The sanctions would also ban the transfer of U.S. weapons to the battalion.
The laws, named after then-Senator Patrick Leahy, barred units or individuals accused of human rights violations who had not yet been brought to justice from receiving military aid, The Times of Israel reported.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has decided not to sanction other Israeli military and police forces being investigated by the Biden administration because their behavior has improved significantly, an Axios report said, citing sources.
Days earlier, a ProPublica report said a State Department panel recommended Blinken impose sanctions on several Israeli units, including Netzah Yehuda, over accusations of human rights abuses.
Notably, several soldiers from the battalion were involved and had earlier been convicted of abusing Palestinian prisoners.
Since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out on October 7 last year, the United States has so far imposed sanctions on individuals who have committed violence against Palestinians. More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people and triggered the war.
According to the Times of Israel, the latest round of sanctions came into effect on Friday, targeting Benzi Gopstein, the leader of the far-right organization Lehava and a close ally of Gvir.
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