Israeli Leaders Up in Arms Over Threat of U.S. Aid Cut to Army Battalion

Israeli leaders have strongly criticized the possibility of the Biden administration cutting off aid to an army battalion in response to accusations of human rights abuses in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

According to a report by Axios, Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested on Friday that a decision has been made, with results expected to be revealed in the coming days. The U.S. has been investigating the IDF unit since 2022, a U.S. official told CBS News.

The battalion came under intense scrutiny following the death of a 78-year-old Palestinian-American man who was detained by IDF soldiers at a West Bank checkpoint in January of that year.

Israeli Reaction

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have vehemently opposed the potential sanctions, emphasizing the battalion's adherence to international law and the values of the IDF.

A U.S. official clarified that while the U.S. is not considering sanctioning IDF units, certain units would be ineligible for American security assistance under the Leahy Act until any violations are remedied.

Netanyahu and the IDF have faced domestic backlash for failing to thwart Hamas' terror attack, leading to top-level resignations within the military intelligence agency.

Israel's retaliatory war against Hamas resulted in significant casualties, with over 34,000 people killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health.

Continued Conflict in Gaza

The war in Gaza has persisted, with nearly 15,000 children reported to have been killed. Recent strikes in Rafah have raised concerns over civilian casualties, prompting warnings against a major military ground operation in the city.

The conflict has left Gaza in a state of devastation, with widespread destruction, severed utilities, and civilian casualties.