The United States has sanctioned the Israeli extremist group Tzav 9 for obstructing and damaging humanitarian aid convoys to Gaza amidst an escalating risk of famine in the Palestinian territory.
The group has been accused of looting and setting fire to aid trucks, actions condemned by the US Department of State, which emphasized the importance of humanitarian aid in preventing a worsening crisis in Gaza.
These sanctions, announced by the Biden administration, freeze the group’s assets in the US and largely bar American citizens from engaging in transactions with them. The move follows the issuance of an executive order designed to penalize individuals and entities undermining peace and stability in the occupied West Bank.
The decision comes after Israeli media reports indicated that far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir influenced law enforcement to refrain from protecting aid convoys. Protests and road blockades by right-wing Israelis have intensified in recent months, further impeding aid delivery to Gaza. The US State Department specifically attributed a recent attack on aid trucks in the Hebron Hills to Tzav 9.
Despite these measures, calls for sanctions against Israeli officials responsible for abuses in the West Bank, including Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, remain unaddressed. Advocacy groups like Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) have urged broader sanctions, pointing to high-level coordination of efforts to block aid.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged Israel’s steps to facilitate aid deliveries but insisted on more significant actions to expedite and protect humanitarian efforts.
In response to the sanctions, Israel has expressed concern over what it views as interference in its domestic affairs, arguing that it maintains security measures to prevent weapons and dual-use goods from reaching Gaza-based militant groups. The situation underscores ongoing tensions between humanitarian imperatives and security concerns in the volatile Israeli-Palestinian context, complicating international efforts to alleviate suffering in Gaza.
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