The US State Department announced Monday that it decided not to block aid to an Israeli military unit over human rights abuses, citing that it is satisfied with the measures Israel has taken since April to address the issue.

According to a spokesperson, the State Department found that the human rights violations were effectively addressed, including by the removal of two soldiers accused of violations from combat positions, their disqualification from reserve service and the implementation of new screening procedures to prevent future violations.

Additionally, he noted that while the US observed improvements in the conduct of the specific battalions, the responsibility to pursue legal action lies solely with the Israeli justice system.

In April, the State Department said that an Israeli army battalion, which they did not name, might have committed grave human rights abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank before the war in Gaza. Although the State Department did not directly confirm which Israeli unit was under investigation, following their mention by a journalist Monday, the unit is widely believed to be Netzah Yehuda, which has operated in the West Bank and been associated with abuses against civilians in Palestinian territory.

If the US finds that a foreign security force has been implicated in gross human rights violations like torture or extrajudicial killings, the country is prohibited from funding that force under the “Leahy law,” which was established under section 620M of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. The State Department assesses incidents on a case-by-case basis and the law allows for aid to resume if the Secretary of State confirms that the foreign government has taken necessary and effective steps to address the abuses.

One former State Department official who oversaw the implementation of the Leahy law argued that the decision seems at odds with what the law requires, as the actions taken by Israel, as cited by the department, seem to be insufficient. He claims that the absence of an independent US verification and apparent political pressure from the Prime Minister of Israel raise concerns about the unconditional acceptance of Israeli information and the US commitment to human rights.