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Amid rumors that Washington is thinking of imposing sanctions on Israeli military forces, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to oppose them.
Tensions between the two allies have increased due to the potential penalties, which target Israel's Netzah Yehuda unit, which is active in the occupied West Bank.
Concern was expressed by Israeli officials suggesting that the US was about to sanction the Netzah Yehuda battalion.
The Israeli military, however, said that it was unaware of any such actions.
The action follows the US announcement of penalties against Israeli settlers in the West Bank, a symptom of mounting dissatisfaction with Netanyahu's administration given its reliance on settlement parties.
Netanyahu denounced the prospect of penalties, saying, "If anyone believes they Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz, a former armed forces chief, has also expressed opposition to the sanctions.
He stated that such actions would harm Israel’s legitimacy during a time of conflict and emphasised Israel’s adherence to international law.
In response to the escalating tensions, Gantz engaged in discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging reconsideration of the sanctions.
However, the U.S. State Department’s statements on the matter did not mention the imposition of sanctions.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding potential sanctions, the Israeli military has affirmed its commitment to investigating any allegations of misconduct thoroughly.
