The United Nations has added Israel to its annual blacklist of parties credibly suspected of committing conflict-related sexual violence, marking the first time the country has been included in the report.
According to the latest report by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the UN verified 31 cases of conflict-related sexual violence allegedly committed against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank between 2023 and 2025.
The report stated that 13 of the verified cases occurred in 2025, while the remaining 18 were recorded during the previous two years.
The UN said the cases included allegations of rape, sexual torture, forced nudity, threats of rape, and other forms of sexual violence. It also noted that restrictions on access to affected areas meant the documented cases may not reflect the full scale of alleged abuses.
Israel has rejected the findings, with Israeli officials describing the decision as politically motivated and announcing a freeze in cooperation with the office of the UN Secretary-General.
The blacklist forms part of the UN’s annual report on conflict-related sexual violence and is intended to identify parties suspected of committing or being responsible for such violations during armed conflicts. (Newswire)