U.S. sanctions right-wing Israeli group for blocking Gaza aid
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A humanitarian aid convoy after it was vandalized by Israeli activists. Photo: Oren Ziv/AFP via Getty
The Biden administration announced sanctions on Friday against the Israeli right-wing organization "Tzav 9" for blocking humanitarian aid convoys to Gaza, two sources with knowledge of the decision told Axios.
Why it matters: The flow of aid into Gaza has been hampered in recent weeks by numerous factors, including the closure of the Rafah corridor. Efforts by right-wing Israeli activists to block convoys coming from Jordan — with the apparent support of some senior politicians — have made matters worse.
Driving the news: In recent weeks, several such convoys have been blocked as they made their way through the West Bank and Israel to Gaza.
- In videos of some of the incidents, the activists were seen looting the convoys and throwing aid packages into the road. In some cases, the trucks were set on fire.
- In some of the incidents, the Israeli police didn't intervene.
- In a recent letter to Israel's attorney general, Israel's police commissioner revealed that ultranationalist minister of national security Itamar Ben Gvir gave direct orders to senior police officers to not secure the aid convoys.
Between the lines: The right-wing group "Tzav 9," which is behind the blocking of the aid trucks, is affiliated with NGOs close to Ben Gvir.
- In a report issued to Congress last week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted that some senior Israeli officials have been "actively involved in encouraging protests against and attacks on aid convoys that delayed their entry into Gaza."
- The report did not name Ben Gvir, but he has made such statements in the past.
- In a statement, Tzav 9 called the U.S. decision "difficult and shocking" and claimed its members "chose to stop aid to the enemy in a time of war."
What they're saying: State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement on Friday that for months "individuals from Tzav 9 have 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."
- "The Government of Israel has a responsibility to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian convoys transiting Israel and the West Bank enroute to Gaza," the statement said.
- "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," it added.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan said a few weeks ago that the Biden administration was considering action against activists who block the trucks, calling the vandalism and looting a "total outrage."
- "This is an urgent and critical situation," Sullivan said in a White House press briefing. "We have to get those crossings open to get more aid in."
- "We are also raising our concerns at the highest level of the Israeli government, and it's something that we make no bones about. This is completely and utterly unacceptable behavior," Sullivan said.
- Sullivan added that the U.S. is working alongside Israel, Egypt and the UN to address the situation.
- The sanctions rolled out Friday come from both the State and Treasury departments.
Behind the scenes: State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters that the Biden administration has raised aid truck attacks several times with very senior Israeli officials, including on Monday after the most recent incident.
- Blinken also discussed this issue with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant on Sunday, an Israeli official said.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with statement from the State Department.
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