UN Blacklists Israel Over Sexual Violence Allegations

NEW YORK – The United Nations is reportedly set to announce the addition of Israeli entities to the blacklist of countries committing sexual violence in conflict zones. The Israeli Prison Service is among several entities added to the list, alongside other Israeli authorities.

The Jerusalem Post reported that Hamas was also included in the blacklist. Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon expressed anger over the decision, stating that Israel would freeze cooperation with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s office over the move.

‘The UN Secretary-General has placed Israel on the same blacklist as Hamas, ISIS, and the world’s most despicable terrorist organisations,’ Danon told the news outlet. ‘This is a moral disgrace and a total collapse of the UN’s credibility.’

‘Anyone who can place Israel on the same list as terrorists and rapists from Hamas lacks morality,’ he added.

Multiple news reports and evidence gathered by human rights groups have documented a dramatic increase in sexual violence by Israeli soldiers and settlers since the start of the genocide in Gaza.

Israeli detention facilities have been specifically criticised by governments, human rights organisations, and leading experts for sexually abusing detainees.

Previously, US media The New York Times (NYT) published a report on widespread rape of Palestinians in Israeli custody. The opinion piece was the result of investigative work by veteran war correspondent Nicholas Kristof.

A similar report was previously published by Middle East Eye last month through a document titled ‘Sexual Violence and Forcible Transfer in the West Bank: How the Exploitation of Gender Dynamics Drives Displacement’ by the West Bank Protection Consortium.

The group documented at least 16 cases of alleged sexual violence involving Israeli settlers and soldiers.