United Nations Adds Israel to Sexual Violence Blacklist

The United Nations confirmed on Friday that it added Israel to a blacklist of countries suspected of committing sexual violence against civilians in conflict zones. The designation appears in the annual “conflict-related sexual violence” report released the same day. Israel’s foreign ministry responded by stating it would sever all ties with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Background to the listing Last August the United Nations cited “credible information” about sexual violence by Israeli security forces against Palestinian detainees and said inspectors had been denied access to detention facilities. Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon posted on X that the government had invited a UN representative to examine the allegations but the representative did not visit.

Details in the report The report stated that in 2025 the United Nations verified multiple incidents of conflict-related sexual violence against 14 men, seven women, nine boys and one girl from the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank. Violations listed include rape, gang rape, forced nudity, and targeted shooting of the genitals.

Perpetrators included Israeli armed and security forces, and some incidents were filmed or photographed. UN official Pramila Patten said she received an invitation from Israel but the visit was suspended over disagreements on scope, access and cooperation linked to the war in Gaza.

Other countries and global figures The same report added Russia to the list after documenting 310 verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence by Russian forces in Ukraine. Nearly 10,000 cases of conflict-related sexual violence were recorded worldwide in 2025, more than double the previous year’s total.

Placement on the list does not automatically trigger sanctions, though repeated inclusion bars states from UN peacekeeping operations.