In Israel – the first resignation of a high-ranking military commander since the attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on October 7. Israel’s military intelligence chief, Aharon Haliva, announced he was stepping down after his unit failed to prevent the attack, which killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians. Prime Minister Netanyahu has slammed media reports that the United States is preparing sanctions against an Israeli army battalion accused of human rights abuses.
Footage of an Israeli army operation in the occupied West Bank. Violence between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants there periodically escalates – Palestinians attack Israeli soldiers, Tel Aviv retaliates with force. It was the Netzah Yeruda battalion operating in the West Bank that was involved in the scandal with the sanctions that the United States may impose on the Israeli army.
On Sunday, Axios reported that Washington was preparing this step because of alleged human rights violations. The specific example is from 2022 for the death of a 78-year-old Palestinian-American man who died in custody by the Israeli army after being tied up and suffocated. Then the commander of the “Netzah Yehuda” battalion was reprimanded and two officers were dismissed. There are also other allegations of ill-treatment of detained Palestinians. Ultra-Orthodox Jews serve in the all-male “Netzach Yehuda” battalion, created in 1999. Prime Minister Netanyahu has spoken out against the imposition of sanctions.
“I will fiercely defend the Israeli army and our fighters. If anyone thinks they can sanction an IDF battalion, I will retaliate with all my might,” said Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister.
Netanyahu is adamant that the actions of all members of the army were legal. If the rumors in the media turn out to be true, then these will be the first US sanctions against the Israeli army. If sanctioned, the battalion will not be able to receive any financial support from the United States. According to US law, aid cannot be given to power structures that have violated human rights.
At the moment, there is no official comment from the American side. In recent months, relations between traditionally close allies Washington and Tel Aviv have been strained by the war in Gaza, where more than 35,000 civilians have been reported killed and a deepening humanitarian crisis.
A mass grave was found in Khan Younis, Gaza’s second largest city, on Saturday. According to the Palestinian Authority, at least 180 bodies were found there. On the eve of Passover, the White House released a statement from Joe Biden, in which he emphasized that he remains directly engaged in the work of freeing the remaining more than 100 Israeli hostages in Gaza. Despite its criticism of Israel, on Saturday the House of Representatives of the US Congress also approved the granting of 23 billion dollars in military aid to Israel.
“My commitment to the safety of the Jewish people, to the security of Israel and its right to exist as an independent Jewish state is unwavering,” said US President Joe Biden.
The war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in the Gaza Strip has been going on for more than half a year. On October 7, hundreds of Palestinian fighters invaded Israeli territory, killing 1,200 people and abducting 250. Back then, intelligence chief Aharon Haliva took the blame for allowing Israel’s supposed impenetrable defenses to be breached. He announced today that he is resigning, but will remain in his post until his replacement is appointed. Other high-ranking military commanders from the Israeli army are also expected to part with their posts.
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