More And More Israeli Military Units Potentially Sentenced To US Sanctions

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - The United States will most likely impose sanctions on more units of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), The Times of Israel media reported on Monday, citing unnamed US sources.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken previously stated he would impose sanctions on the Netzah Yehuda battalion regarding the incident in the West Bank before Israel's aggression against Palestine on October 7, 2023, according to US media Axios on Saturday (20/4).

The Netzah Yehuda Battalion is said to consist of young orthodox Jewish settlers who are not accepted in other IDF units.

For these sanctions, the Netzah Yehuda battalion will not be able to get assistance and access to military training from the US.

In addition to the battalion, the US Ministry of Foreign Affairs will reportedly consider sanctions for other Israeli military and police units that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people.

The Israeli daily reported that the US had investigated a number of Israeli military units for alleged human rights violations over the past year.

A US source said the sanctions would prohibit Israel from disbursing military aid funds from the US to help Netzah Yehuda battalion buy weapons.

However, Israel certainly still has other sources of funding outside US aid to finance the battalion, the US source said.

Meanwhile, the IDF vehemently rejects accusations that soldiers who are members of the Netzah Yehuda battalion have violated the code of ethics.

The IDF said the battalion had fought "professionally and manlyly" in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (21/4) confirmed that his party would oppose any sanctions against Israel.

Similarly, the extreme right-handed National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said sanctions against Israeli military units would be a "red line".