Washington: The United States today imposed sanctions on Tzav 9, which it termed a “violent group that has been blocking, harassing, and damaging convoys carrying lifesaving humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians in Gaza”.
The US move appears a direct blow to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On April 21, 2024, he declared, “I will strongly defend the IDF [Israeli Defence Forces], our army and our fighters. If somebody thinks they can impose sanctions on a unit in the IDF – I will fight this with all my powers. As our soldiers are united in defending us on the battlefield, we are united in defending them in the diplomatic arena”.
Matthew Miller, the US State Department Spokesperson, said today that the Government of Israel has a responsibility to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian convoys transiting Israel and the West Bank en route to Gaza. He asserted, “We will not tolerate acts of sabotage and violence targeting this essential humanitarian assistance. We will continue to use all tools at our disposal to promote accountability for those who attempt or undertake such heinous acts, and we expect and urge that Israeli authorities do the same”.
The US Department of State designated Tzav 9, and Miller said that for months, individuals from Tzav 9 repeatedly sought to thwart the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, including by blockading roads, sometimes violently, along their route from Jordan to Gaza, including in the West Bank.
“They also have damaged aid trucks and dumped life-saving humanitarian aid onto the road. On May 13, 2024, Tzav 9 members looted and then set fire to two trucks near Hebron in the West Bank carrying humanitarian aid destined for men, women, and children in Gaza,” Miller said. He asserted that the provision of humanitarian assistance is vital to preventing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza from worsening and mitigating the risk of famine.
“The Department is sanctioning Tzav 9 pursuant to section 1 (a)(i)(A) of Executive Order (E.O.) 14115, for being responsible for or complicit in, or having directly or indirectly engaged or attempted to engage in actions—including directing, enacting, implementing, enforcing, or failing to enforce policies—that threaten the peace, security, or stability of the West Bank,” Miller elaborated.
– global bihari bureau
