GENEVA: Israel is set to be included on a United Nations blacklist of parties committing sexual violence in conflict zones, a move immediately condemned by the country’s leadership as a political decision disconnected from reality. The confirmation came directly from Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, who announced the decision on Friday.
“This is a political decision! Disconnected from the facts and reality!” Ambassador Danon declared in a post on X. The Israeli mission to the UN stated that Danon was informed of the forthcoming report during a telephone conversation with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
A New Low in Relations
The diplomatic fallout was swift and severe. Israel’s foreign ministry announced late Thursday that it would sever all ties with Secretary-General Guterres’s office in response to the listing. The ministry accused Guterres of violating standards of honesty, integrity, and professionalism, stating it would await the appointment of a new UN chief.
When questioned about the Israeli reaction, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric maintained a diplomatic stance. “I can tell you from the Secretary-General’s point of view, his door remains open to Israeli representatives, as to the other 192 member states and the two observer states,” Dujarric said during a regular briefing.
Guterres’ Grave Concerns
The listing follows a warning issued in Guterres’ annual report to the Security Council last August. In that report, the Secretary-General put both Israel and Russia “on notice” that they could be added to the list of parties “credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of rape or other forms of sexual violence.”
Guterres had expressed being “gravely concerned about credible information of violations by Israeli armed and security forces” against Palestinians. The documented allegations focus on incidents within several prisons, a detention center, and a military base.
Danon, who previously dismissed the concerns as baseless, said Israel had responded in detail to every allegation and had invited UN representatives to visit and investigate the situation. He claimed the UN chose not to accept the invitation. In a separate post, Danon described equating Israel with Hamas as a “new low.”
Hamas Also Listed
The same August report that warned Israel also listed Hamas as a group “credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of rape or other forms of sexual violence” during its October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, which triggered the war in Gaza. Hamas has categorically rejected those allegations.
The UN in Geneva and Hamas did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the latest development.
