What is Tsav 9, a hard-line Israeli group sanctioned by the US

New Delhi:

The US today imposed sanctions on the far-right Israeli group Tsav 9 in response to the group’s aggressive actions against humanitarian aid convoys bound for Gaza. These measures, enacted under an executive order signed by US President Joe Biden in February, aim to combat violence and threats to stability in the West Bank.

The US State Department imposed sanctions against the group described as a “violent and extremist Israeli group” for obstructing convoys delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza and attacking trucks. According to the State Department, Tsav 9 members began blocking the crucial Kerem Shalom crossing near the Gaza-Israel-Egypt border at the beginning of the year. They later set fire to trucks and injured Israel Defense Forces drivers and soldiers, exacerbating the hunger crisis in Gaza.

What is Tsav 9?

Tsav 9, also spelled Tzav 9, appeared in January this year. The group’s name references “Tzav-8”, the emergency call-up order for Israeli military reservists. It was formed by Israeli settlers, army reservists and families of those taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 attacks last year. These individuals oppose the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, believing that much of the aid is diverted to Hamas.

Since its formation, Tsav 9 has been implicated in numerous violent activities aimed at disrupting the delivery of aid to Gaza. The group’s tactics include blocking roads, harassing drivers and vandalizing trucks. They attacked convoys at the Kerem Shalom crossing, setting trucks on fire and injuring drivers and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers.

Photo credit: Reuters

In May, members of Tsav 9 looted and burned two humanitarian aid trucks near Hebron, an act that was part of a broader campaign to prevent essential supplies from reaching Gaza. Footage has emerged showing the group looting humanitarian aid shipments and dumping food and medical supplies on the road. These actions contributed to the worsening of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where famine conditions were reported.

International and Domestic Reactions

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan called the attacks “completely unacceptable”, while Aaron Forsberg, director of the State Department’s Office of Sanctions Policy and Implementation, reiterated the US commitment to using all available tools to hold perpetrators accountable.

“We are using the authority to sanction an ever-widening selection of actors, targeting individuals and entities that threaten the peace, security and stability of the West Bank, regardless of religion, ethnicity or location,” said Aaron Forsberg, quoted by the news. Reuters agency.

Within Israel, the response to Tsav 9 is mixed. Although the group’s actions have sparked international outrage, there is significant domestic support for its opposition to sending aid to Gaza. Several polls indicate that the majority of Israelis are in favor of limiting or suspending humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Tsav 9’s activities are part of a broader pattern of settler violence in the region. Palestinians and human rights organizations have long accused the Israeli military and police of failing to adequately intervene in attacks on settlers. The recent wave of violence has increased since the conflict between Israel and Hamas intensified on October 7, 2023.

The Israeli government has faced criticism for its handling of the situation. Its Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, has been accused of taking a tolerant approach to settler violence, while some Israeli security forces are considered complicit in alerting Tsav 9 activists to the location of aid convoys.