State Department decides against penalizing IDF unit accused of human rights violations
The State Department has ended its investigation into allegations of human rights abuses committed by an Israel Defense Forces unit known as the "Netzah Yehuda" battalion and decided against withholding U.S. aid over the matter, according to U.S. officials.
The State Department had extended its review by several months in order to "evaluate new information" provided by the Israeli government, spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a statement to ABC News.
"After thoroughly reviewing that information, we have determined that violations by this unit have also been effectively remediated," Patel said. "Consistent with the Leahy process, this unit can continue receiving security assistance from the United States of America."
According to a U.S. official, Israel informed the U.S. that after its military prosecutors determined two soldiers connected to the unit should be penalized, they were removed from combat positions, have since left the military and are now ineligible to serve in the reserves.
Additionally, the official said that Israel told the U.S. the IDF had taken several steps to avoid future violations of rights, including enhancing screening requirements for personnel recruited into the battalion, implementing new control mechanisms during the soldiers' training, requiring a two-week education seminar unique to the unit, and documenting conduct of its members.
ABC News has also learned that the government of Israel told the State Department that the two soldiers were referred for prosecution, but that the case could not move forward because witnesses declined to cooperate.
The reported offenses that were under investigation occurred in the West Bank and happened before the attacks of Oct. 7.
-ABC News' Shannon K. Kingston
