A Sigh of Relief for Israel Didn’t Last Long as U.S Sanctions Israeli’s Military Unit

Jubilation for Netanyahu had sparked after U.S Congress passed bill to funnel aid to Israeli military but its hope punctured after U.S contemplates sanctions on one or more Israeli battalions

A moment of joy had burst out in Israel after U.S Congress on Saturday, passed its approval on funneling $14 billion for Israeli’s continuous push to annihilate Hamas group in Gaza. But the joy evaporated as quickly as it was felt, after U.S administration proposed its decision to sanction one or more Israeli battalions accused of human right violations in the occupied West Bank.

The warning came floating after human rights officials released data declaring more than 34,000 civilians  dead in Gaza in consequence to Netanyahu’s persistent military operations. A total of $26 billion package for Israel and humanitarian aid for civilians in conflict zones, including Gaza was approved by the US house, but if the sanctions are imposed, the military aid for Israel will not hold up.

The deliberations against Netzah Yehuda and other battalions would come under the 1997 Leahy law which bans military battalions accused of human rights violations to receive U.S aid or training. It will unsurprisingly be a huge back-step for Netanyahu’s administration who despite international intervention has continued its arms offenses and U.S has been a key player lifting Israel’s spirits throughout.

Israeli military unit’s unapologetic violence on Palestinians

A day after, when the Israel’s ministry was welcoming US military aid which would have been a huge moral booster for Israel’s operation against Hamas in Gaza, the news broke examining possible US sanctions on its soldierly unit. The impacts the sanctions would infuse on Israel’s fighting capacity were not yet officialized.

The main battalion unit – Netzah Yehuda is annually accused of committing genocidal acts on Palestinian civilians one of which involved the death of a 78 year old Palestinian-American man who was detained, gagged and handcuffed by members of the unit in a night raid on his village in January 2022. The Israel command unit condemned the soldiers involved saying, “their actions do not correspond with what is required and expected of Israeli soldiers.”

Aftermath of the investigation, no criminal charges were brought against the soldiers because the military said the investigation did not ponder a link between the man’s death and its soldier’s misconduct. There have been endless situations when Human rights organizations have accused the Israeli’ military justice system of whitewashing wrongdoing and for acting in impunity. The United State president has appalled the military for its rising levels of violence on Palestinians and anti-settlement activists in West Bank.

Netanyahu reverted to US sanctions, a ‘moral low’

Prime minister of Israel has dismissed the possibility of Biden administration imposing sanctions on its military unit as a “peak of absurdity and a moral low” at a time when the forces are fighting a war against Hamas in Gaza. Reflecting on his determination to not allow the sanctions to pass through, Benjamin Netanyahu has revealed his course of ‘acting by all means’ on his social media page.

Despite the volume these sanctions hold, the news of it is enough to further strain Israel’s military relationship with US. Keeping Netanyahu under his microscope, Joe Biden has repeatedly patronized the former leader for neglecting humanitarian crisis in Gaza which has led to an unfortunate death toll of more than 34,000 civilians.

United States had this week, withdrawn itself from subjugating Iran after its aerial strikes on Israel for the fear that this will exaggerate a regional war in the Middle East. Favoring a warrant for calling ‘ceasefire’ in Gaza, Joe Biden has also forced Netanyahu to halt its military operations and commence the free-flow of basic supplies in Gaza. The bill which will tick all the boxes on Tuesday for its passage in house Senate aiming to provide aid to Israel will then espouse a decisive moment for Biden and his administration.