The US has recognized five units of the Israeli security forces for responsible for gross human rights abuses, the first time Washington has reached such a conclusion about Israeli forces, the State Department said last night, although the department has not yet banned any of the units from receiving US military aid. Reuters, quoted by BTA.
Israel has taken corrective action in the cases of four of the units in accordance with US law barring military aid to security forces units that have committed such violations and have not been brought to justice, the deputy spokesman told reporters of State Dept. Vedant Patel.
The incidents in question took place outside Gaza before the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and "Hamas" in October, Patel also said.
Human rights groups say they have reported to the State Department incidents involving Israeli units, including extrajudicial killings, torture and physical violence, most of which were committed against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Patel declined to provide details about the violations that U.S. officials looked into, which units were involved or what remedial measures were taken.
"Four of these divisions have effectively remedied these violations, which is what we expect from our partners," Patel said. In the case of the fifth unit, Washington has not yet determined whether there has been a sufficient degree of remediation and is still in discussions with Israel, he added.
The fifth division is believed to be the "Netza Yehuda" of the Israel Defense Forces, which is believed to be involved in the death of 78-year-old American citizen of Palestinian origin Omar Assad in 2022, according to Reuters.
All five divisions remain eligible for US military aid, Patel explained.