Israel has sharply criticized the United Nations after being reportedly added to a blacklist of parties accused of conflict-related sexual violence, with Israeli officials calling the move politically motivated and deeply offensive.
Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon revealed on Thursday that the UN had decided to include Israel and its security services in its annual Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) report. According to Israel’s official UN mission account on X, Danon was informed of the decision by the chief of staff to UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
The designation has not yet been formally announced by the United Nations, but Israeli officials said the move places Israel on the same blacklist as Hamas militants involved in the October 7 attacks. Danon condemned the decision, accusing the UN of promoting false accusations and conducting what he described as a political attack against Israel.
In a public statement and video address, Danon argued that Israel had cooperated fully with the UN process by submitting evidence, official documents, and detailed responses to every allegation raised against its forces. He also said Israel had invited UN representatives to independently review the accusations on the ground, but claimed the organization chose not to conduct such investigations.
Calling the inclusion “outrageous,” Danon accused Guterres and his staff of spreading “lies against Israel.” He said equating Israel with Hamas on the same list was unacceptable and announced that Israel would suspend relations with the office of the UN secretary-general.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry echoed the criticism, describing the UN decision as “shameful and absurd.” The ministry accused the organization of maintaining a long-standing institutional bias against Israel and confirmed that West Jerusalem would cut all ties with Guterres’ office until a new UN secretary-general takes office.
The controversy comes amid growing international scrutiny over allegations of abuse by Israeli forces and prison authorities during the ongoing conflict. A recent investigation published by The New York Times detailed accusations of sexual violence allegedly committed against Palestinians by Israeli soldiers, settlers, interrogators, and prison guards.
Additional allegations surfaced earlier this week after Australian activists detained during Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla accused Israeli forces of rape, sexual assault, torture, humiliation, and physical abuse while in custody.
The Canadian government has also called for an independent investigation into the activists’ treatment, describing the allegations as “appalling” and urging accountability for those responsible.
Israel has strongly denied all accusations, insisting that detainees are treated in accordance with the law and rejecting claims of systematic abuse.