According to Al Jazeera, published on May 28th, the United Nations is about to release an annual report on sexual violence in conflicts. The report accuses Israeli forces of committing sexual violence against Palestinians, and lists them on a list of parties guilty of sexual violence in conflict zones. Israel immediately criticized the United Nations for spreading lies and announced that it would cut off its ties with Secretary-General Kofman.
It is expected that the United Nations will officially release its report on the 29th of this month, local time. This report is usually submitted to relevant countries before being released. In August last year, the United Nations warned that Israel was likely to be included in the list of entities responsible for sexual violence in armed conflicts.
On May 28th, local time, Danny Danon, Israels Permanent Representative to the United Nations, posted a message on social media, confirming that Israel had been listed on a blacklist. He accused António Guterres and his team of spreading lies against Israel, calling this unacceptable.
Danon wrote, We are tired of this United Nations Secretary-General. The decision to blacklist Israel and accuse us of using sexual violence in conflicts is outrageous.
The Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations announced in a statement that Israel will cut off its ties with Guterres. The statement emphasized that as long as Guterres continues to serve as the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Israel will not have any contact with the Office of the Secretary-General.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Mamorstein also posted a statement on social media, criticizing the United Nations for making shameful and absurd decisions. He claimed that this indicates that the United Nations has become politicized and corrupt, with its main task being to target Israel in a systematic manner.
Israels Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Danny Danon, IC photo
For a long time, Israel has faced accusations of mistreating Palestinians. Al Jazeera reported that numerous reports and investigations have shown that Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli prisons, especially those arrested after the new Palestinian-Israeli conflict in 2023, suffered from torture and sexual violence at the hands of Israeli prison guards and soldiers. They were subjected to inhumane treatment.
In August last year, the United Nations cited reliable information to claim that Israeli security forces committed sexual violence against Palestinian prisoners in prisons and detention centers. The United Nations investigators were also refused access to these facilities.
In April this year, a coalition of several humanitarian organizations called West Bank Protection Alliance released a report stating that sexual violence and abuse committed by Israeli settlers and soldiers are driving Palestinian residents to flee the West Bank region.
Earlier this month, Israel intercepted a ship carrying activists destined for the Gaza Strip. Hundreds of activists were detained and later deported. The activists who were released revealed that they suffered abuse during their detention by Israel. At least 15 of them reported experiencing sexual assault or rape.
The American journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner, Nicholas Kristof, wrote an article on May 11. Based on the testimony of 14 Palestinian victims, he detailed the instances in which Israeli settlers and security forces members committed sexual violence against Palestinians.
This article caused great irritation among the Israeli government. On May 14, the office of Israels Prime Minister issued a statement, accusing The New York Times of publishing the most vile and distorted lies against Israel. It was announced that extraordinary measures would be taken to prosecute the newspaper.
In response to this, a spokesperson for The New York Times denied Israels claims. The spokesperson stated, All details have been thoroughly verified through fact-finding efforts. The statements were also cross-checked with news reports, independent research by human rights organizations, investigations, and testimonies from the United Nations. During the reporting and verification process, we consulted independent experts regarding the assertions contained in the article.
Since the new round of Palestinian-Israeli conflicts began in 2023, relations between the United Nations and Israel have remained tense. UN officials such as António Guterres have repeatedly condemned Israels attacks on the Gaza Strip. In 2024, Israel even labeled Guterres as a unwelcome person.
Regarding Israel being listed by the United Nations on the Sexual Violence Blacklist, Rima Salim, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, stated that Israel should have been included on the list long ago.
She said, Given that there have been independent investigations and verifications, indicating that Israel has carried out systematic, widespread, and horrific acts of sexual violence against Palestinian women, men, and children, I have expressed my disappointment that Israel wasnt included on the list.
After Israel announced the severance of ties with Guterres, UN Secretary-Generals Spokesperson Disearick responded on the 28th that the doors of the Secretary-Generals office remain open to Israel. Disearick said that Guterres hopes to have conversations and exchanges with all representatives who are located within the United Nations building, including those who are authorized to represent their respective countries at the UN.
