sanctions

A senior official told the Washington Post that the US was considering issuing sanctions against settlers blocking aid from reaching Gaza.

The US Treasury imposed sanctions on Gertler in 2017 and 2018, accusing him of leveraging his friendship with former Congo President Joseph Kabila to secure lucrative mining deals.

The news came on the day that America was poised to pass a mass assistance package to Israel, strengthening the relationship between America and Israel.

While US support of Israel stands strong, these sanctions will threaten to undermine the close cooperation between the two countries.

Pressure from Israeli politicians appears to have succeeded in pushing the US to step back from issuing sanctions.

The Biden administration's nuanced criticism of Israel, focusing on sanctions against the Netzach Yehuda battalion, may undermine Israel's legal credibility internationally.

Israel worries for remaining hostages • State indicts Haniyeh's sister • Terror in West Bank • New details emerge about missile strike in Iran • US to sanction IDF unit

“At a time when our soldiers are fighting terrorist monsters, the intention to sanction a unit in the IDF is the height of absurdity and a moral low,” Netanyahu wrote in a post on X.

The Netzah Yehuda battalion operates in the West Bank and is mainly composed of haredi men and extremist youth who hold far right views and were not included in other combat units in the IDF.

The sanctions come the same day that similar measures were taken by the European Union Council, which sanctioned four individuals and two entities including Lehava.