United Nations Leader Warns Israel About Sexual Misconduct by Military Personnel
The United Nations (UN) has issued a formal warning to Israel, placing the country on notice for possible inclusion in the UN's blacklist of countries and groups suspected of committing sexual violence in armed conflict. This move comes in response to credible reports of violations against Palestinians by Israeli military and security forces in several prisons, a detention center, and a military base.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed grave concern over these reports, calling on the Israeli government to take immediate action to end all acts of sexual violence and allow thorough investigations. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory has documented patterns of sexual violence, including genital violence, prolonged forced nudity, and repeated strip searches conducted in an abusive and degrading manner.
The UN's blacklist currently includes 63 government and non-government parties suspected of such abuses. Notably, Hamas militants have been officially blacklisted following their 2023 attack in Israel. This development marks an expansion in the UN's scrutiny, as it now includes both non-state actors like Hamas and state forces such as those of Israel.
Last year, the Israeli army reportedly detained nine soldiers over the alleged sexual abuse of a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman prison. A video was published in Israeli media, appearing to show soldiers sexually assaulting a male prisoner, with the US State Department describing it as "horrific."
Israeli officials have responded to these allegations. A high-ranking Israeli official, Mr. Danon, dismissed the UN's concerns as baseless accusations and called for the UN to focus on the alleged war crimes and sexual violence of Hamas and the release of all hostages. Mr. Danon asserted that Israel will continue to act in accordance with international law while protecting its citizens.
However, access to UN monitors in Israel has been denied, making it difficult for a definitive determination about the patterns, trends, and use of sexual violence by Israeli forces. Meanwhile, a senior Hamas official, Basem Naim, has rejected the allegations of sexual violence.
The UN's warning to Israel underscores a global issue of sexual violence in conflicts, which has seen a 25% increase in 2024, according to the latest UN Secretary-General report. Tens of thousands of survivors of sexual violence have been documented yearly, highlighting the ongoing severity of this issue internationally.
The UN's efforts to address sexual violence in conflicts extend beyond Israel and Hamas. The UN chief, Mr. Guterres, has also issued a warning to Russia about credible information of violations by Russian armed and security forces and affiliated armed groups against Ukrainian prisoners of war.
[1] UN Secretary-General Report, August 2025 [2] UN Communications, August 2025 [3] Various news sources, August 2025 - March 2026
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