UN Report Blacklists Israel for Horrific Sexual Violations Against Palestinians

United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, submitted his annual report on conflict-related sexual violence to the members of the Security Council, documenting a series of grave and horrific Israeli violations against Palestinians. Guterres affirmed in his report that the international organization observed recurring and systematic patterns of sexual assaults targeting Palestinian detainees within the occupation's detention and interrogation centers during 2025.

Based on the report's findings, the United Nations decided to officially include Israeli forces in the blacklist of states and entities involved in practicing sexual violence in conflict zones. This step is a significant legal and international escalation against Israeli security practices, reflecting the extent of evidence collected by UN teams regarding the nature of these crimes that targeted civilians and detainees alike.

The report included shocking details about Israeli forces and security agencies committing sexual assaults against men, women, and even children from the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank. Sources clarified that these violations included cases of rape and gang rape, in addition to violent practices targeting the genitals of detainees, reflecting a deliberate policy of intimidation practiced behind bars.

The Secretary-General strongly criticized the Israeli authorities' failure to open serious and transparent investigations into these reports, indicating that the absence of accountability gives a green light for these crimes to continue. Guterres considered that the Israeli judiciary's decision to drop charges against soldiers involved in brutal assaults within the notorious 'Sde Teiman' camp directly contributes to entrenching a climate of impunity and protecting perpetrators.

In an angry reaction to this report, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the severance of its official relations with the Office of the UN Secretary-General, describing the UN move as biased against it. The ministry claimed in a statement that Guterres is using his last term in office to fabricate baseless accusations, considering the blacklisting of its entities as a purely political decision aimed at distorting its international image.

For his part, Guterres did not back down from his positions, reiterating his strict demand for Israel to immediately cease all forms of sexual and physical violence against Palestinians. He stressed the importance of allowing UN teams and bodies unrestricted access to detention centers and occupied territories to conduct independent field investigations that ensure the uncovering of facts and the prosecution of those involved in these international crimes.

Violations were not limited to regular forces but also extended to settler attacks in the West Bank, where previous human rights reports cited by the United Nations indicated that settlers resorted to methods of harassment and sexual intimidation. UN sources reported that field reports, including one prepared by the Norwegian Refugee Council, proved that Palestinian families were subjected to attacks inside their homes, exacerbating the suffering of civilians under occupation.

Israel dropping charges against soldiers involved in serious assaults in the Sde Teiman camp perpetuates a climate of impunity for sexual violence.