UN Blacklists Israel Over Wartime Sexual Violence

Israel Added To UN Watchlist For First Time

Israel has been placed on a United Nations blacklist of parties accused of conflict-related sexual violence for the first time, marking a significant escalation in tensions between Jerusalem and the international body.

The report, issued by the office of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, said investigators verified 31 cases of sexual violence allegedly committed by Israeli personnel against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. The cases included allegations of rape, gang rape, forced nudity and violence directed at detainees' genitals.

According to the UN, 13 of the verified incidents occurred in 2025, while the remaining 18 took place during the previous two years.

Israel Rejects Allegations

Israel strongly rejected the findings and announced it would sever cooperation with the secretary-general's office.

Israeli ambassador to the UN Danny Danon accused Guterres of promoting what he described as anti-Israel falsehoods, while Israeli officials insisted the allegations were unproven and politically motivated.

The Israeli military said it investigates any credible claims of misconduct and remains bound by both Israeli and international law.

Detainee Abuse Claims Under Spotlight

The UN report cited allegations involving 14 men, seven women, nine boys and one girl. It also claimed investigators faced obstacles in gathering evidence, including restricted access and fears among detainees about reporting abuse.

Particular attention has focused on allegations surrounding the Sde Teiman detention facility, where leaked CCTV footage previously appeared to show detainee mistreatment by guards. The case drew international condemnation after medical examinations reportedly found injuries consistent with abuse.

The UN Committee Against Torture has also voiced concern about what it described as widespread allegations of mistreatment of Palestinian detainees since the outbreak of the Gaza war following the October 2023 Hamas attacks.

Hamas Remains On The List

The report also maintained Hamas on the blacklist.

The UN said it received allegations from former Israeli hostages who claimed they suffered sexual violence while being held in Gaza. However, investigators said they were unable to independently verify many of the claims because access to relevant witnesses and evidence remained restricted.

The organisation stressed that its findings should be viewed as evidence of patterns and trends rather than a complete accounting of all alleged incidents.

Russia Also Added

The report also placed Russian forces on the blacklist for the first time over allegations linked to the war in Ukraine.

The UN documented more than 300 cases of conflict-related sexual violence in Russian-controlled areas, including allegations of rape, torture and genital mutilation involving prisoners of war and civilian detainees.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha welcomed the decision, calling it an important step toward accountability.

Growing Pressure Over Accountability

The findings add to mounting international scrutiny of conduct during the Gaza conflict and the war in Ukraine.

Human rights organisations have repeatedly argued that accountability mechanisms remain inadequate, while both Israel and Russia have rejected many of the allegations levelled against them.

The blacklist does not impose automatic sanctions, but inclusion carries significant diplomatic consequences and increases pressure on governments and armed groups to investigate allegations and improve compliance with international humanitarian law.

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If the cases have been verified, one can no longer use the term 'alleged'.

There are lifelong consequences to rape. I hope the victims were able to identify these perps and that they will be brought to justice. Committing such a horrible crime while representing the state is most reprehensible terrorism. Israel is a wholesale nest of criminals so this is unlikely.

Sure, Hamas did the same. But are those Jewish men, women, girls, boys any more valuable than Palestinians?

All women are daughters, sisters, wives, mothers. All men are sons, brothers, husbands, fathers. All girls and boys are somebody's children. If Israel tolerates these crimes, what other crimes are they hiding?