The United Nations has included Israel’s security forces on a list of entities “credibly suspected” of committing sexual violence in conflict, triggering a sharp diplomatic response from Israeli officials who have announced plans to sever contact with UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
The designation was published in a report submitted by Guterres to the UN Security Council, which detailed verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza between 2023 and 2025. According to the report, the UN documented multiple incidents involving at least 31 Palestinian victims and classified some of the alleged abuses as acts of torture.
The findings represent one of the most serious formal UN assessments to date regarding allegations of sexual violence linked to Israeli security operations during the ongoing conflict period. The report outlines a wide range of alleged violations, including rape, gang rape, and rape involving objects, as well as attempted rape, targeted violence against genital areas, forced nudity, humiliating strip and cavity searches, unwanted physical contact, and threats of sexual assault.
According to the UN documentation, perpetrators included members of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the Israel Prison Service—including special units such as Keter forces—as well as personnel from the Police Counter-Terrorism Unit. The report said the abuses occurred primarily during detention and interrogation procedures at multiple facilities.
Among the locations cited were military installations, checkpoints, prisons, and police stations, including the Sde Teiman detention facility, which has previously drawn scrutiny from human rights organizations.
The report also documented cases of sexual violence against both male and female detainees. Women reportedly faced threats of rape, forced nudity, degrading searches, and unwanted touching, while men and boys were allegedly subjected to rape, attempted rape, and severe physical violence targeting genital areas.
In several cases, male victims reportedly suffered long-term injuries, including severe rectal bleeding and swelling lasting for weeks, with some individuals allegedly denied adequate medical treatment. The report also noted that journalists and human rights activists were among those affected.
Beyond the specific allegations, the UN report highlighted what it described as a broader pattern of systemic impunity. UN agencies, according to the findings, have “consistently documented a systematic lack of accountability for violations against Palestinians,” contributing to what the report called an ongoing climate of unpunished abuses.
The inclusion of Israel’s security forces in the UN’s blacklist of entities credibly suspected of sexual violence marks a significant escalation in international scrutiny of conduct during the conflict. The listing places Israeli forces alongside other armed groups and state actors accused of similar violations in conflict zones worldwide.
The Israeli government reacted with immediate and forceful condemnation of the report. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the findings as “shameful and absurd,” rejecting what it characterized as institutional bias within the United Nations against Israel.
The ministry said Israel had thoroughly and unequivocally refuted the allegations and accused the UN of attempting to create what it called a false equivalence between Israeli security operations and sexual violence committed by Hamas.
“This decision is yet another example of the UN’s longstanding, institutionalised hostility towards Israel,” the ministry said in a statement. It further argued that the report lacked legitimacy and was politically motivated.
Israeli officials also announced that the country would sever ties with the office of Secretary-General António Guterres in response to the listing. The move represents one of the most serious diplomatic breakdowns between Israel and the UN leadership in recent years.
The decision comes at a time when Guterres’s tenure is nearing its end, with his term set to expire later this year. The process to appoint a successor has already begun, adding further uncertainty to the future of Israel-UN relations.
Despite the escalating tensions, a UN spokesperson said Guterres remains open to dialogue. Speaking earlier in the week, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric emphasized that the Secretary-General is willing to maintain communication channels with Israeli representatives.
“From the secretary-general’s point of view, his door remains open to Israeli representatives,” Dujarric said, signaling that the UN leadership is not seeking a complete breakdown in engagement despite the diplomatic fallout.
The report’s findings focus heavily on conditions of detention, where most of the alleged violations reportedly occurred. According to the UN, detainees were exposed to sexual violence during interrogations and confinement in multiple facilities across the occupied territories.
Human rights observers have long raised concerns about detention conditions in the region, but the UN report presents one of the most detailed international accounts of alleged sexual violence tied to state security forces in the ongoing conflict.
The allegations include both physical and psychological forms of abuse, with threats and humiliation described as part of interrogation practices. The UN said such actions may constitute violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law.
While Israel has rejected the findings, the report is likely to intensify global debate over accountability mechanisms and the role of international institutions in documenting alleged wartime abuses.
The UN has not announced any immediate enforcement measures beyond the listing, but the inclusion itself carries significant symbolic and political weight. It may also influence future diplomatic discussions and legal scrutiny at international forums.
The situation adds to already heightened tensions between Israel and the United Nations, which have frequently clashed over reports concerning the conduct of the war and humanitarian conditions in Palestinian territories.
As diplomatic relations deteriorate, the report is expected to remain a focal point in international discussions about accountability, conflict-related sexual violence, and the broader humanitarian impact of the war.
With both sides firmly entrenched in opposing narratives, prospects for immediate reconciliation appear limited. The UN continues to call for accountability and transparency, while Israel maintains that the allegations are unfounded and politically motivated.
The controversy underscores the broader challenge facing international institutions as they attempt to document and adjudicate alleged violations in active conflict zones, where access to evidence and competing political narratives often collide.
