US determines 5 Israeli security units committed human rights violations before outbreak of Gaza war

The US State Department has determined that five Israeli security units committed gross violations of human rights prior to October 7, but is still deciding whether to restrict military assistance to one of the units under US law.

The US State Department has determined that five Israeli security units committed gross violations of human rights prior to the outbreak of the war with Hamas in Gaza, but is still deciding whether to restrict military assistance to one of the units under US law. The other four “have effectively remediated these violations,” deputy State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said Monday. The US is still deciding whether to restrict assistance to the remaining unit – reported to be the ultra-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda battalion. “We continue to be in in in consultations and engagements with the Government of Israel. They have submitted additional information as it pertains to that unit, and we’re continuing to have those conversations,” Patel said. “All of these were incidents much before October 7, and none took place in Gaza,” Patel noted. According to a source familiar, the Israelis told the US in recent weeks about previously undisclosed actions they’ve taken and the US is reviewing those actions to see whether they are sufficient enough to hold off restricting aid.