The United States has announced it will send an additional $3.5bn to Israel for US-made weapons and military equipment, despite widespread accusations of human rights abuses by the Israeli army in the occupied West Bank. Part of the aid package will go to an Israeli military unit accused of serious violations against Palestinians. This decision comes as the deadly war in Gaza continues into its 10th month.
The State Department justified its decision not to sanction the unit, believed to be the Netzah Yehuda battalion, by claiming Israeli efforts to address the violations have been “effectively remediated”. This move comes after Secretary of State Antony Blinken determined in April that the battalion had committed grave human rights abuses, triggering an investigation under the Leahy Law.
Criticism of Israel has been mounting, with the military facing accusations of indiscriminate killings of Palestinian civilians, torture of prisoners, and deprivation of basic necessities to displaced Palestinians. Most recently, 10 Israeli soldiers were accused of gang raping a Palestinian detainee in a prison camp, an incident that was caught on video.
Despite protests from Republican lawmakers over the findings of abuse, the US has decided to continue aid to the unit to allow Israel time to address the wrongdoing. The decision to provide additional military aid to Israel has sparked controversy, as many are calling for accountability for the alleged human rights violations committed by the military.
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