IDF Unit Faces Us Sanctions Over Alleged Human Rights Violations In West Bank

A unit of the Israel Defense Forces is facing US sanctions over its treatment of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, even as Congress has voted for $26bn (£21bn) in new emergency aid to Israel.

- Peter Beaumont

According to reports in the Israeli media, US state department officials have confirmed they are preparing to impose sanctions on the IDF'S Netzah Yehuda battalion, which has been accused of serious human rights violations against Palestinians.

The move, which would be the first time the US government has targeted an IDF unit, prompted immediate anger among Israeli political leaders who vowed to oppose it.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported yesterday that the US was considering similar moves against other police and military units.

In a statement on the issue, the IDF said it was unaware of any sanctions in force against any of its units. "If a decision is made on the matter, it will be reviewed," it added.

The sanctions, which would be imposed under the 1997 Leahy law, would prohibit the transfer of US military aid to the unit and prevent soldiers and officers participating in training either with the US military or in programmes that receive US funding.

The reported plans were disclosed as Israeli strikes on the southern Gaza city of Rafah on Saturday night killed 22 people, 18 of them children, according to health officials in Gaza.

Most appear to have been victims in the second of two airstrikes, which killed 17 children and two women, all from the same extended family, according to hospital records.

Mohammed al-Beheiri said his daughter Rasha and her six children, ranging in age from 18 months to 16 years, were among those killed overnight and into yesterday.

Her husband's second wife and their three children were still under the rubble, he said.