UN adds ‘Israel’ to blacklist for sexual violence
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The United Nations has included ‘Israeli’ forces in its annual blacklist of parties credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of sexual violence in conflict zones.
The decision, detailed in Secretary-General António Guterres’ report on conflict-related sexual violence for 2025, marks the first such listing for ‘Israel’ since the reporting mechanism began more than 15 years ago.
The report identifies the ‘Israel’ Prison Service for inclusion, while other ‘Israeli’ security entities, including elements of the ‘Israeli’ military and police units, face monitoring for potential future listing.
It documents verified incidents primarily involving Palestinian detainees, citing patterns of rape, attempted rape, genital violence, forced nudity, and sexual humiliation in facilities such as Naqab/Ketziot, Ofer, and Sde Teiman.
These abuses are described as continuing into 2025.
United Nations investigators verified multiple cases dating back to 2023, affecting men, women, and children in detention settings and during operations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The report notes challenges in comprehensive verification due to restricted access but highlights a lack of full accountability measures by ‘Israeli’ authorities despite available evidence.
In response, ‘Israel’s’ Foreign Ministry announced it would sever all ties with Guterres and his office.
Ambassador Danny Danon described the decision as “outrageous,” accusing the UN of equating ‘Israel’ with Hamas.
The annual report lists 77 government and non-government parties across a dozen countries. It notes a sharp rise in global cases of conflict-related sexual violence in 2025. Russia was also added to the blacklist for the first time alongside ‘Israel’.
Guterres’ report advances beyond last year’s warning, when both ‘Israel’ and Russia were placed “on notice.” The development has intensified diplomatic tensions, with ‘Israel’ stating it will resume engagement only after Guterres’ term ends in December 2026.
The full report is expected to be formally presented to the UN Security Council.
