US investigates Israeli military for alleged rights abuses
The United States Department is investigating further reports of human rights violations in an Israeli unit. If the allegations prove true, the Americans will cease supplying it with weapons.
The US State Department is conducting an investigation into an Israeli military unit accused of human rights violations at a detention camp for Gazans, often referred to as the "Israeli Guantanamo". If the US authorities find the allegations justified, the unit will lose access to American weaponry.
The Axios portal reported on Monday, citing Israeli and American officials, that the investigation concerns the unit overseeing the camp located at the Sede Teman military base in the Negev Desert. This camp holds Palestinians arrested in Gaza, including those suspected of involvement in the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023.
Several members of this unit have been charged with sexually assaulting one of the prisoners. Human rights organisations have long warned that the camp, referred to by critics as the "Israeli Guantanamo", is a site of human rights violations. According to the newspaper "Haaretz", 30 prisoners have died there since the start of the current conflict in Gaza.
Axios reports that the American investigation is being conducted in accordance with the so-called Leahy law, which forbids providing assistance and military equipment to military and paramilitary units credibly accused of human rights violations.
A similar investigation was initiated by the State Department in the first half of this year regarding the Netzach Yehuda battalion, which was involved in the killing of a 78-year-old US citizen in the West Bank. Ultimately, US authorities opted not to impose sanctions, stating that Israel had taken actions to hold violators accountable and had implemented mechanisms to prevent further incidents.
