United States: 5 Israeli Army Units Committed ‘Gross Rights Violations’ Before Gaza War

The US State Department reported on Monday that it has discovered five units of the Israeli military liable for gross human rights violations in instances that took place outside of Gaza before conflict broke out between Israel and Hamas in October.

Vedant Patel, the State Department deputy spokesperson, said, “Four of the units have effectively remediated the violations, while Israel has submitted additional information regarding the fifth unit and the U.S. is continuing conversations with the government”.

Patel stated that US weapons sales to the troops will be unaffected.

He declined to provide specifics on what human rights violations were committed, which units were involved, or what remediation steps were taken.

“After a careful process, we found five Israeli units responsible for individual incidents of gross violations of human rights. All of these were incidents much before October 7th and none took place in Gaza”, Patel continued.

Patel went on to say, “Four of these units have effectively remediated these violations, which is what we expect partners to do… For a remaining unit, we continue to be in consultations and engagements with the government of Israel”.

Israel’s war action has come under increased scrutiny as Israeli forces have killed around 34,500 Palestinians in Gaza. The Gaza Strip has been turned into a wasteland, and severe food shortages have prompted fears of famine.

The Israeli offensive was begun in response to the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, in which Israel claims 1,200 people were killed and scores of hostages taken.

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