US State Department accuses 5 IDF units of ‘gross violations of human rights’

The US State Department found five units of the Israeli military responsible for “gross violations of human rights” in incidents that took place outside of Gaza before the conflict broke out between Israel and Hamas in October, the State Department says.

Four of the units have effectively remediated the violations, while Israel has submitted additional information regarding the fifth unit and the US is continuing conversations with the government, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel tells reporters.

The announcement comes after the US decided to hold off on its decision to blacklist the fifth unit, an infantry brigade of mostly ultra-Orthodox soldiers that has been accused of abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank.

The IDF Spokespersons Unit directed The Times of Israel to the Foreign Ministry for a response on the matter.