Official announcements from the U.S. Department of State

U.S. to Sanction IDF's Netzah Yehuda Battalion for First Time Over Rights Abuses

Apr 21, 2024, 09:21 PM

The U.S. is poised to impose sanctions on the Israeli military's Netzah Yehuda Battalion over alleged human rights violations in the West Bank, marking the first time such measures have been taken against an IDF unit. This decision has sparked significant backlash from Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who described the sanctions as 'the height of absurdity and a moral low'. The sanctions, expected to be announced by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, will prohibit the battalion from receiving U.S. military assistance or training. The move has been criticized by various Israeli officials as undermining the country's military integrity and its ability to conduct operations during wartime.