The Biden administration has decided to end its investigation into the Israeli military unit known as the Netzah Yehuda battalion, despite accusations of human rights violations, including the death of an elderly Palestinian-American man. The US State Department reviewed new information provided by the Israeli government and determined that the battalion had remedied its behavior and addressed US concerns. As a result, the US will continue to provide security assistance to the unit.
First formed in 1999 with only 30 soldiers, the Netzah Yehuda battalion has grown to around 1,000 troops operating in the occupied West Bank cities of Ramallah and Jenin. The all-male military unit caters to the religious needs of ultra-Orthodox Haredi men and does not include non-Jews. It enforces strict religious dietary rules and gender segregation.
The battalion has faced multiple allegations of abuse against Palestinians, including the recent death of Omar Muhammad Assad, who died after a violent detention at the hands of the troops. Despite these incidents, the US has chosen not to impose sanctions on the unit under the Patrick Leahy Law.