 "Representative photo of trucks with humanitarian supplies for the Gaza Strip (Photo: AP)")
The United States has sanctioned an extremist Israeli group for blocking trucks carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
For weeks, far-right extremists in Israel have been attacking trucks carrying humanitarian supplies to war-torn Gaza and disrupting their movements. The Israeli government has so far failed to check on the activities of these extremists.
In a statement on Friday, the US Department of State said it has sanctioned the group, Tzav 9, for blocking, harassing, and damaging convoys carrying supplies to Gaza. It said the group has undertaken violent activities all the way from Israel’s border with Jordan to West Bank and the border with Gaza.
“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,” said the Department of State.
Previously, the US sanctioned violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank who were indulging in violence against the Palestinians in the region.
The US also said that the Israeli government has a responsibility to ensure the safety and security of convoys carrying humanitarian supplies to Gaza. It further said it will continue to use “all tools at our disposal to promote accountability for those who attempt or undertake such heinous acts”.
What is Tzav 9 group?
The Tzav 9 group has been formed by demobilised reservists of the Israeli military, members of some hostages’ families, and Israeli settlers in West Bank, according to CNN.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsFor months, the group has been blockading the supply of aid to Gaza at the Kerem Shalom crossing, which is Israel’s only border crossing with Gaza, as per CNN.
The group has been saying that the supplies will be taken over by Hamas and will empower the terrorist group. The situation is dire in Gaza as large swathes of the Palestinian enclave have been devastated in the war and food, water, and medicines are scarce in the region. In parts of northern Gaza, top United Nations (UN) and US officials have said that famine-like conditions have been reported.
In a statement following the sanction’s announcement, Tzav 9 said it only participated in its democratic exercise to protest the aid and did not indulge in violence.
What do sanctions on Tzav 9 mean?
The sanctions by the Department of State means that the concerned members of the groups will be barred from business or financial entities in the United States, according to The New York Times.
The newspaper further reported that properties or assets of any members in the United States will also be frozen.
The sanctions could particularly hit hard those members who hold dual Israeli-US nationality as they would be more likely to have exposure in terms of business, jobs, or properties in the United States, which would be set to be frozen after the sanctions.