US weighs sanctions on more Israeli battalions, Netanyahu vows to 'fight it'

The US is considering imposing sanctions on other Israeli military and police units over its alleged human rights violations against Palestinian civilians, two US sources said on Sunday. This came close on the heels of the Joe Biden administration's plan to sanction the Netzah Yehuda battalion, in a move that could strain ties between the two allies amid the Israel-Hamas war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he would fight against sanctions on any Israeli military unit "with all my strength", The Times of Israel reported. "If anyone thinks they can impose sanctions on a unit of the IDF (Israel Defence Forces), I will fight it with all my strength," he said in a statement.

The US State Department conducted an investigation into Netzah Yehuda and several other units in the Israeli military for more than a year due to alleged human rights abuses, according to The Times of Israel report.

The Netzah Yehuda battalion has been mired in past controversies over allegations of violence against Palestinians. This also included the death of Omar As'ad, a 78-year-old Palestinian-American who died after the battalion soldiers detained him. He was handcuffed, blindfolded and later found abandoned in near-freezing conditions.

A source predicted that other Western countries may follow suit and impose sanctions on Israeli military units accused of violence against Palestinians.

If the US imposes sanctions on Netzah Yehuda and other battalions, these units will be barred from using US military aid to purchase weapons. However, Israel can use its own funds to purchase weapons for these units, a second source said.

The Biden administration, however, was differentiating between its move to disapprove Israel's actions in the West Bank even as a $14 billion aid package was passed by the US Congress over the weekend. The aid package for the war in Gaza signified Washington's continued robust support for the Jewish state despite concerns over the aftermath of the fighting.

In a statement, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned that the planned move by the US would set a "dangerous" precedent while he spoke with IDF Chief of Staff Lt Gen Herzi Halevi on Sunday on how to prevent the planned sanctions from being imposed.

"I expect the American administration to go back on its intention to impose sanctions on the Netzah Yehuda battalion," Gallant said.

He urged the Israeli defence establishment to "act at all echelons in order to make clear to the American government the importance of supporting IDF operations, which are carried out subject to international law".

"Any attempt to vilify an entire unit casts a heavy shadow on the actions of the IDF to protect the citizens of Israel and thwart terror elements. Harm to one battalion is harm to the entire defence establishment. This is not the way to behave with partners and friends," Gallant was quoted as saying in a statement.

The Israeli Defence Ministry said that Gallant spoke to US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew and was expected to hold talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken as well.

War cabinet minister Benny Gantz said he spoke to Blinken and urged him to reconsider the move. He said the planned sanctions were "unjustified" and would be a mistake as they would harm Israel's legitimacy at a time when it is battling Hamas in Gaza.