The United Nations has added Israel to its blacklist of parties accused of committing conflict-related sexual violence, according to excerpts from a new UN report seen by international media ahead of its official release.
The report by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on conflict-related sexual violence reportedly includes Israeli security forces among entities “reasonably suspected” of patterns of sexual violence and related abuses during the ongoing war in Gaza.
The listing marks the first time Israel has been formally included in the UN’s annual blacklist on conflict-related sexual violence, a mechanism previously used against armed groups and state actors accused of systematic abuses in conflict zones around the world.
According to the report, UN investigators documented allegations involving:
- sexual violence,
- humiliating treatment,
- threats of rape,
- forced stripping,
- and abuse during detention operations and military raids in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories.
The report also reaffirmed findings concerning sexual violence committed during the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas militants inside Israel. Previous UN investigations concluded there were “reasonable grounds” to believe Hamas fighters committed rape and other forms of sexual violence during the attacks.
Israeli officials strongly rejected the new listing. Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations described the decision as “politically motivated” and accused the UN of creating a “moral equivalence” between Israel and militant organizations.
The Israeli government insisted that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operate under strict military codes and said allegations of misconduct are investigated internally. Israeli officials also accused Hamas of using misinformation campaigns to delegitimize Israel internationally.
Palestinian officials and human rights groups welcomed the development, arguing that allegations of abuse against Palestinian detainees and civilians have long gone unpunished. Rights organizations including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have repeatedly called for independent investigations into alleged abuses during the Gaza conflict.
The report comes amid growing international scrutiny of the war in Gaza, which has triggered mounting legal and diplomatic pressure on Israel. The International Court of Justice is currently hearing a genocide case brought by South Africa against Israel, while the International Criminal Court has separately sought arrest warrants against Israeli and Hamas leaders over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The UN blacklist is attached to the Secretary-General’s annual report on conflict-related sexual violence and is intended to pressure listed parties into adopting measures to prevent abuses and cooperate with international monitoring mechanisms. Inclusion on the list does not constitute a criminal conviction but carries major diplomatic and reputational consequences.
The latest report is expected to intensify tensions between Israel and the United Nations, whose agencies and officials have repeatedly clashed with Israeli authorities throughout the Gaza war over humanitarian access, civilian casualties, and allegations of human rights violations.
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