US officials accuse Israeli military unit of severe human rights violations; eligibility for aid still pending

An Israeli military unit accused of committing severe human rights violations by US officials remains eligible to receive US military equipment, according to a senior State Department official. Vedant Patel said that after an investigation, four out of five units had addressed the incidents in question and were no longer subject to restrictions under the Leahy Law. However, discussions regarding accountability for the remaining unit are ongoing with the Israeli government, which has submitted additional information.
The alleged violations stem from incidents before Israel’s recent conflict with Hamas, during which over 1200 civilians in southern Israel were killed and more than 240 people taken captive back to Gaza by militants. The ongoing war has been one of the most devastating conflicts in modern Israeli history, as international observers have criticized both sides for failing to protect civilian lives or provide humanitarian assistance during hostilities.
Blinken emphasised that Hamas could have ended the conflict immediately if they had stopped using civilians as shields and surrendered peacefully. However, he argued there has been a lack of condemnation from international observers towards Hamas’ actions. Blinken said protests calling for sanctions against Israel do not impact US policy decisions because their primary focus is on what serves the interests of American citizens and keeps them safe and secure.
The recent wave of anti-war demonstrations in universities across America has brought these issues to public attention, but Patel maintained that protesters have every right under First Amendment law to express themselves freely without fear of retaliation or censorship by authorities. However, he stated the State Department’s primary concern is protecting American interests and keeping its citizens safe from harm.