The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Tzav 9, an Israeli group accused of blocking and damaging humanitarian aid convoys to Gaza. This group, comprising Israeli reservists and West Bank settlers, has been preventing aid from reaching Gaza, which is facing severe shortages due to a prolonged blockade. The situation in Gaza is dire, with the threat of famine looming large.
For months, Tzav 9 has been actively disrupting the delivery of humanitarian aid. They have been blocking roads, sometimes violently, and have set aid trucks on fire. This has made it even more difficult to get much-needed supplies to the people in Gaza. The US State Department highlighted an incident in May when Tzav 9 members looted and then set fire to two trucks near Hebron in the West Bank that were carrying aid to Gaza. These actions have not only delayed aid but have also destroyed essential supplies meant to help those in desperate need.
The sanctions on Tzav 9 involve freezing the group’s assets in the US and barring American citizens from doing business with them. This move is part of a broader strategy under an executive order signed by President Biden to penalize those involved in violence and instability in the West Bank. The US government has stressed that the provision of humanitarian aid is crucial to prevent the situation in Gaza from worsening and to mitigate the risk of famine.
The State Department has called on the Israeli government to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian convoys traveling through Israel and the West Bank to reach Gaza. Despite international pressure, Israeli authorities have been criticized for not doing enough to protect these aid deliveries. The US has made it clear that it will not tolerate actions that sabotage and target humanitarian assistance.
In response to the sanctions, Tzav 9 has expressed shock and criticized the Biden administration. They claim that their actions are aimed at stopping aid from reaching Hamas, the militant group governing Gaza, and insist that much of the aid is diverted to Hamas. However, the US and humanitarian organizations have stated that there is no widespread evidence of aid being diverted by Hamas.
The Biden administration has been actively using the executive order to impose sanctions on various groups and individuals involved in violence in the West Bank. Last week, they sanctioned the Lion’s Den, a Palestinian armed group. Despite these measures, Washington has faced criticism for not penalizing Israeli officials responsible for abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank, including far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and ultranationalist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
US Senator Chris Van Hollen has urged the administration to sanction Smotrich, citing his actions that undermine peace and stability in the West Bank. Smotrich has withheld taxes owed to the Palestinian Authority and declared large areas of the West Bank as Israeli state land. Van Hollen believes that Smotrich’s goal is to have Israel take over the entire West Bank, a move that would further escalate tensions in the region.
The advocacy organization Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) has welcomed the sanctions on Tzav 9 and called for additional measures against individuals and entities that support the group. DAWN’s director of research for Israel-Palestine, Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man, pointed out that the involvement of Israeli officials like Ben-Gvir in these actions highlights a coordinated effort to starve Gaza from the highest levels of the Israeli government down to young settler activists.
Rights advocates have also called on the US to pressure Israel to lift its siege on Gaza. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged that Israel has made some efforts to remove obstacles to aid deliveries but emphasized that more needs to be done. He highlighted the need to speed up the inspection of aid trucks, reduce backlogs, shorten the list of prohibited goods, and increase and expedite visas for aid workers. Blinken also urged for clearer and more effective channels to protect humanitarian workers from military operations.
The situation in Gaza is dire, with over a million people facing the risk of starvation if more aid is not allowed in. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began in October, has resulted in the deaths of over 37,000 people and has left many hundreds of thousands more injured or displaced. The war started after Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 others as hostages back to Gaza.
The sanctions against Tzav 9 are part of a broader effort by the US to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to hold accountable those obstructing aid. The Biden administration has made it clear that it will use all tools at its disposal to promote accountability for actions that undermine peace and stability in the region. This includes targeting individuals and groups involved in violent extremism and those responsible for blocking humanitarian assistance.
Tzav 9, which means “Order 9,” refers to the emergency mobilization notices for Israeli reservists. The group’s protests have targeted aid convoys at Kerem Shalom, the main border crossing between Israel and Gaza. Despite the area being declared a closed military zone, protesters have continued to try to outmaneuver the police and block the aid deliveries. The group claims their actions are in response to the continued captivity of Israeli hostages by Hamas, arguing that no aid should pass until the hostages are released.
The US State Department has condemned these actions and stressed the importance of humanitarian assistance in preventing a worsening crisis in Gaza. The sanctions on Tzav 9 are intended to deter further sabotage and violence against aid convoys and to hold the group accountable for their actions. The Biden administration’s broader strategy includes targeting those who perpetrate violence and instability in the West Bank, whether they are Israeli settlers or Palestinian militant groups.
In conclusion, the sanctions on Tzav 9 by the Biden administration highlight the US government’s commitment to ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and addressing the violence and instability in the West Bank. The situation in Gaza remains critical, with millions of people in need of aid and the threat of famine growing. The US will continue to use all available tools to promote accountability and support efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
