Israel put on UN sexual violence in warzones blacklist for first time

Israel says it rejects allegations in a new report by the office of the UN secretary general.

Watch LiveBritish Broadcasting CorporationHomeNewsSportBusinessTechnologyHealthCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesHomeNewsUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessWorld of BusinessTechnology of BusinessNYSE Opening BellTechnologyWatch DocumentariesArtificial IntelligenceIntelligence RevolutionAI v the MindTech NowHealthWatch DocumentariesCultureWatch DocumentariesFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsWatch DocumentariesArts in MotionTravelWatch DocumentariesDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthWatch DocumentariesScienceNatural WondersClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcast CategoriesRadioAudio FAQsVideoWatch DocumentariesBBC MaestroDiscover the WorldLiveLive NewsLive SportDocumentariesSite searchHomeNewsSportBusinessTechnologyHealthCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesWeatherNewslettersWatch LiveIsrael put on UN sexual violence in warzones blacklist for first time20 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleEmir NaderGetty ImagesIsraeli guards were caught on CCTV appearing to sexually abuse a detainee from Gaza at the Sde Teiman detention facility (pictured)Israel has been added to a UN blacklist of countries that commit sexual violence in warzones for the first time.

A report by the office of Secretary General António Guterres said the UN had last year verified 31 cases of sexual violence perpetrated by Israeli forces against Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank. It said 13 of the cases had occurred in 2025, and 18 in the two years prior.

The UN said its report should be seen as "indicative of incidents and patterns" rather than comprehensive.

Israel said it rejected allegations of sexual abuse and intended to break off relations with the secretary general's office.

Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, accused Guterres on Thursday of spreading antisemitic lies. The Israeli UN mission said it will refuse contact with his office as long as he serves as head of the international body.