Israeli military unit Netzah Yehuda facing US sanctions: What we know

Israeli leaders are bracing for a fight over proposed penalties against specific Israeli military units for alleged human rights abuses.

The US is reportedly mulling penalties against Israel’s Netzah Yehuda brigade over their treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank. But what is the history of this battalion, and what’s behind it?

The facts

The Netzah Yehuda brigade dispute is an example of the complicated interaction of military activities, religious beliefs, and human rights concerns in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The possibility of US sanctions on the battalion raises concerns about accountability for suspected violations and the delicate balance between military assistance and human rights norms.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that he had taken decisions about whether to withdraw financing to various Israeli security units based on reports of human rights violations occurring prior to October 7. He did not directly name Netzah Yehuda, according to the report by CNN.

What is the Netzah Yehuda Battalion?

The Netzah Yehuda battalion, founded in 1999, was formed to accommodate the religious convictions of ultra-Orthodox Jews and other religious nationalist recruits in the Israeli army.

It was created as a mechanism for these groups to serve in the military while retaining their religious customs, such as setting aside time for prayers and study and limiting relationships with female soldiers.

The controversy surrounding the brigade revolves around charges of human rights violations. In one high-profile case, Omar Assad, a 78-year-old Palestinian-American, died of a heart attack in 2022 after being imprisoned by Netzah Yehuda soldiers. He was discovered abandoned on a construction site. A Palestinian autopsy found that Assad died of a stress-induced heart attack caused by being manhandled.

The arguments

Although the Israeli military reprimanded the battalion’s commander and demoted two officers over the event, they opted not to press criminal charges, citing a lack of proof linking the soldiers’ conduct to Assad’s death.

Other incidents

This is not the first incident involving Netzah Yehuda soldiers. Several claims or charges of assaulting Palestinian inmates have surfaced throughout the years, some of which have been captured on camera. The unit largely operated in the West Bank before being removed from the territory in late 2022 owing to US criticism. It has since been deployed to Gaza.

The prospect of sanctions

The United States is exploring sanctions against the battalion under the Leahy Laws, which ban military assistance to forces committing severe human rights violations. These laws seek to hold people accountable for human rights violations and prevent future violations.

Israel’s response

Israeli politicians have responded vehemently to the prospect of sanctions. Prime Minister Netanyahu slammed the concept as “absurd” and “morally low,” especially given the ongoing battle with Hamas in Gaza.

Defence Minister Benny Gantz has also urged the United States to reconsider its decision.

The Israeli military believes that the Netzah Yehuda battalion follows international law.

As tensions rise, the decision will have far-reaching consequences for efforts to resolve human rights breaches in conflict zones around the world, as well as Israeli-American relations.