leaders in israel The US criticized possible sanctions earlier this week against an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) military battalion accused of human rights violations in 2022.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to announce sanctions against the IDF battalion “Netzah Yehuda” within days, marking the first time the US has imposed sanctions on Israeli-run military units. If Blinken follows through on sanctions, it could further strain relations between the allies, which have already been strained as Israel continues its war in Gaza.
US officials have not identified the sanctioned unit, although Israeli leaders and local media have identified it as Netzah Yehuda, a battalion established about 25 years ago.
Israeli officials have condemned the expected sanctions, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said he would oppose them.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convenes the weekly cabinet meeting at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, Israel on January 7, 2024. (Reuters/Ronen Zvulun/Pool/File photo)
“If anyone thinks they can impose sanctions on any IDF unit, I will fight with all my might,” Netanyahu said.
Some members of the battalion have been linked to abuses against Palestinians. In 2022, the group faced harsh criticism from the US after Omar Assad, a 78-year-old Palestinian-American man, was found dead after being detained at a West Bank checkpoint.
An autopsy conducted by Palestinian officials found that Assad suffered a heart attack caused by “external violence”, adding that he had underlying health conditions.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets the State Department Harry S. Truman in Washington, DC on March 13, 2024. Held a press conference at Truman headquarters. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The autopsy also found that Asad had bruises on his head, redness on his wrists due to being tied, and bleeding from his eyelids due to being tightly blindfolded.
The country’s military also investigated and found that Israeli soldiers had assumed Assad was sleeping when they cut the cables binding his hands. When the soldiers saw that Assad was unresponsive, they failed to provide medical aid and left the scene.
The Israeli military said at the time that one officer had been reprimanded, and two others had been reassigned to non-commanding roles because of the incident.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) in Tel Aviv, Israel on November 3, 2023. (Amos Ben-Gershom (GPO)/Anadolu via Getty Images)
As a result of the US uproar, Israel relocated Netza Yehuda to northern Israel in 2022 after being deployed in the West Bank. Following the attack on Israel by Hamas-led militants on 7 October, the battalion was again transferred to the southern border near Gaza. According to the Israeli military, the battalion is now reportedly helping the war effort in the Gaza Strip.
“The battalion is operating professionally and bravely in accordance with the IDF code of conduct and with full commitment to international law,” it said. It added that if the unit is approved, “its results will be reviewed.”
According to sources, Axios reported that if sanctions are imposed, the battalion and its members will not receive any training or assistance from the US military.
Under the Leahy Act, the United States is prohibited from providing any type of foreign assistance or Defense Department training to countries responsible for alleged human rights violations based on credible information.
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Palestinians look at the destruction after an Israeli attack on a residential building in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, on January 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Adele Hana)
Talking to journalists on Friday. Blinken was asked Regarding human rights violations by Israel in the West Bank and recommendations made by his department to cut military aid to certain Israeli units.
Blinken began by saying that the Leahy Law is important and is applied across the board.
“When we’re doing these investigations, these inquiries, it takes some time, very careful work gathering and analyzing the facts – and that’s exactly what we’ve done,” he said. “And I think it’s fair to say that you’ll see the results soon. I’m determined; you can expect to see them in the coming days.”
Fox News Digital contacted the State Department for comment.
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Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz react in the Israeli Parliament during a discussion at the swearing-in of the new government in Jerusalem, Israel, on December 29, 2022. (Amir Levy/Getty Images)
Israel’s War Cabinet member Benny Gantz issued a statement saying he spoke to Blinken on Sunday and told him the decision was a “mistake,” the Associated Press reported. Gantz said sanctions would harm the country’s legitimacy Time of war.
The wire service also learned from two U.S. officials familiar with the sanctions that an announcement could come as soon as Monday.
Officials reportedly said that five units were investigated, and four of the five took action to correct the violations they were accused of.
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On Friday, the US imposed sanctions on an aide to Israel’s national security minister and two entities who allegedly raised funds for Israeli men who commit settler violence. The new restrictions come in addition to other restrictions imposed on five settlers and two unauthorized outposts earlier this year.
Friday’s sanctions would freeze US assets allegedly held by the targeted individuals, while also barring US forces from dealing with them.
Fox News Digital’s Andrea Vacchiano and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
