UN Blacklists Israel and Russia for Sexual Violence in Conflict, Israel Severs Ties with Guterres
The United Nations has for the first time added Israeli and Russian security forces to its annual blacklist of parties committing sexual violence in conflict zones, citing patterns of rape, genital mutilation, and torture against detainees. Israel immediately severed all ties with Secretary-General António Guterres in protest.
The United Nations published its annual report on conflict-related sexual violence on Friday, formally adding Israeli and Russian armed and security forces to a blacklist of 77 state and non-state actors credibly suspected of systematic abuse. The report, presented by UN Special Representative Pramila Patten, verified 31 cases of sexual violence by Israeli forces against Palestinian men, women, and children from Gaza and the occupied West Bank between 2023 and 2025. It also verified 310 cases of abuse by Russian forces against Ukrainians, predominantly male prisoners of war and civilians.
A diplomatic rupture
Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, was informed of the listing in a phone call with Secretary-General António Guterres ahead of the report's release. Danon immediately condemned the decision as a "political campaign" and "blood libel," accusing the UN of equating a democratic state with terrorist groups. Israel's foreign ministry announced late Thursday that it would sever all ties with Guterres's office, stating he had "chosen to violate every standard of honesty, integrity and professionalism." UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric responded that Guterres's door "remains open to Israeli representatives."
This is a political decision! Disconnected from the facts and reality!
The allegations against Israel
The report documents what it describes as "patterns of sexual violence" by the Israel Defense Forces, police, and prison service against Palestinian detainees. Violations include rape, gang rape, rape with objects, genital mutilation, forced nudity, humiliating body searches, and threats of rape. The UN said these acts were perpetrated in multiple detention centers, checkpoints, and military facilities. The report specifically names the Yamam special unit, the Shin Bet's Keter unit, and the so-called "Force 100."
I never received an iota of information on measures taken by the government of Israel on implementation of the preventive measures.
Patten told reporters that Israel had been notified in 2025 of its possible inclusion and had been urged to take preventive measures, but that she received no substantive response. While Israel says it invited UN representatives to visit, Patten confirmed disagreements over the scope of the visit and access, and said the mission was ultimately suspended due to the war in Gaza. Israel also refused to grant visas to UN observers, citing "institutional bias."
The allegations against Russia
The UN monitors verified 310 cases of conflict-related sexual violence by Russian armed forces and security services in Ukraine. The victims included 280 men, 26 women, and four girls. The documented abuses include rape, gang rape, genital mutilation, electric shocks to genitals, and beatings. The report states that in two-thirds of cases, Russian forces used multiple forms of sexual violence, and more than half of survivors endured repeated attacks. Russia deployed systematic sexual torture in "almost all" detention centers, according to previous UN findings. The Russian mission to the UN has not yet commented on the report.
A growing list
Hamas was already on the blacklist for sexual violence committed during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. The report also includes Islamic State and numerous armed militias such as Sudan's Rapid Support Forces and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. The UN stressed that the 9,788 verified cases in 2025 represent only a fraction of the true scale, due to severe access restrictions in conflict zones. The blacklist carries no legal penalties but serves as a form of diplomatic pressure.
- UN Secretary-General Guterres places Israel and Russia 'on notice' for possible inclusion in the sexual violence blacklist.
- Two Palestinian men tell the BBC they experienced sexual abuse as part of torture in Israeli detention.
- Israel's top military lawyer drops charges against five guards caught on CCTV allegedly abusing a detainee at Sde Teiman.
- Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon is informed by Guterres that Israel will be added to the blacklist.
- UN report is published, formally adding Israel and Russia to the blacklist. Israel severs ties with Guterres's office.
Obstruction and denial
Both Israel and Russia deny the allegations and obstructed investigations. Israel barred UN experts from detention centers, blocked travel to Gaza, and threatened detainees to prevent them from reporting abuse after release. Russia similarly barred monitors from accessing prisoners of war and civilian detainees. The report highlighted one high-profile case in which five Israeli guards were caught on leaked CCTV footage appearing to sexually abuse a detainee at the Sde Teiman facility; a doctor found corroborating wounds, but Israel's top military lawyer dropped charges against the guards in March 2026.
