US Finds Israeli Army Units Responsible for Human Rights Violations Against Palestinians

The US State Department has determined that five units of Israel's security forces committed gross violations of human rights against Palestinians in the West Bank before the October 2023 conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Four of these units have effectively remediated the violations, while the US continues to be in consultations with the Israeli government regarding the fifth unit, widely reported to be the Netzah Yehuda battalion.

The incidents in question occurred outside of Gaza and predate the start of Israel's war on Gaza in October 2023. Despite the findings, the US has not barred any of the units from receiving US military assistance, and all the units remain eligible for such aid. The State Department says it is engaging with Israel in a process and will make a decision on the fifth unit when the process is complete.

This marks the first time Washington has reached such a conclusion about Israeli forces. The Netzah Yehuda battalion, composed mainly of ultra-Orthodox Jews, has been stationed in the West Bank and was implicated in the January 2022 death of a 78-year-old Palestinian-American man.

Why this matters: The US State Department's determinations have become a focus of US election-year politics, with the Biden administration facing pressure from progressive Democrats to demand more accountability from Israel over the high civilian death toll in the Gaza conflict. At the same time, the administration has assured that the determinations will not delay the delivery of US military assistance to Israel.

The State Department maintains it is complying with the Leahy Law, which prohibits US military assistance to foreign units involved in human rights abuses, despite not imposing any restrictions on aid to Israel at this time. "We continue to be in consultations and in engagements with the government of Israel," said State Department spokesman Vedant Patel. "There are no double standards or special treatment when it comes to applying human rights standards consistently to all countries."

Key Takeaways

• US found 5 Israeli military units committed human rights violations in West Bank.
• 4 units remediated violations, US in consultations with Israel on 5th unit.
• US has not barred units from receiving US military assistance.
• This is the first time US has reached such a conclusion about Israeli forces.
• Determinations become focus of US election-year politics, no impact on aid to Israel.