UN Adds Israel to Blacklist for Sexual Violence in Conflict Zones

The United Nations (UN) has added Israel to the ‘blacklist’ of perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict zones. According to a Ynet report, the UN is preparing to announce the inclusion of Israeli entities in the list of countries and organisations alleged to have committed sexual violence in conflict areas. The report states that the Israel Prison Service and other Israeli authorities are under ’ oversight framework’ that could lead to their inclusion in the list in future. This comes amid increasing reports and testimonies from Palestinians and international observers regarding violations against Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Human rights organisations and media outlets have documented hundreds of testimonies from the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and Israeli prisons detailing torture and sexual harassment against Palestinians during arrests, interrogations, and detention.