The United States Department of State announced on Monday (29) that five units of the Israeli army had committed serious human rights violations in incidents outside Gaza before the start of the war between Israel and Hamas.
The cases would have occurred against Palestinians in the West Bank, according to US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel. Four of the units reportedly investigated the violations, while Israel sent additional information about the fifth. The US says it continues to discuss the case with the Israeli government.
Patel declined to give details about what human rights violations were committed, which units were involved or what remedial measures were taken.
Continues after advertising
In a statement, the US indicated that it was still deciding whether to restrict military assistance to one of the units involved.
The Leahy Laws, authored by Senator Patrick Leahy in the late 1990s, prohibit the provision of United States military assistance to allies who commit serious human rights violations and have not been brought to justice.
However, there is an exception if “the Secretary of State determines and reports to Congress that the government of the country is taking effective steps to bring responsible members of the security forces unit to justice.”
