The United Nations has added Israeli forces to its annual list of parties suspected of committing sexual violence in conflicts, marking a first since the review began over 15 years ago. The report, which was shared by the Israeli mission to the UN late Thursday before its official release on Friday, documents 77 government and non-government entities across a dozen countries. It highlights a sharp increase in cases from 2024 to 2025.
Israel and Russia Blacklisted
Both Israel and Russia were warned in last year's report by UN Secretary-General António Guterres that they could be added. The 2025 list includes Israel's armed and security forces, as well as Hamas militants, who were previously blacklisted after their October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the Gaza war. Russian armed and security forces were also blacklisted for the first time for sexual violence against prisoners of war and civilians in Ukraine.
Israel denies the accusations, with its foreign ministry stating that it has "comprehensively, thoroughly, and unequivocally refuted these allegations." The ministry called the decision "another example of the UN's long-standing, institutionalized hostility toward Israel." Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia expressed outrage, calling the report "unsubstantiated lies" and vowing to send a letter to the secretary-general. He added that Russia is documenting Ukrainian treatment of Russian prisoners of war.
Details of Allegations
The report documents "patterns of sexual violence" against Palestinians detained in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. It verified multiple incidents, including rape, gang rape, physical violence to genitals, and threats of rape. At least nine victims, mostly from Gaza, were reportedly raped or gang raped by Israeli forces. The report also includes accusations of sexual violence by Hamas, but notes that many details could not be independently confirmed due to Israeli restrictions on UN access.
In Ukraine, the UN verified 310 cases of conflict-related sexual violence by Russian forces against prisoners of war and civilian detainees, with most victims being men. Ukraine was not blacklisted. Human rights monitors in Ukraine documented 31 cases of sexual violence against prisoners of war and civilian detainees, mostly occurring before 2025.
Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said on social media, "We are done with this UN Secretary-General. Guterres has put Israel on the same blacklist along with Hamas, ISIS and the most depraved terrorist organizations in the world." Guterres' second five-year term ends December 31.
