The United Nations has for the first time added Israel to its blacklist of state and non-state actors credibly suspected of committing sexual violence in conflict zones. The decision, published in the annual report of the UN Secretary-General on conflict-related sexual violence, marks a significant diplomatic rebuke and has drawn a fierce response from Israeli officials.
The report, which covers the calendar year 2023, cites incidents during the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the West Bank. It details allegations including rape, sexualised torture, and other forms of sexual violence attributed to Israeli security forces and affiliated settlers. The listing places Israel alongside groups such as the Islamic State, Boko Haram, and the Taliban.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in a preface to the report, described sexual violence as a “tactic of war, terror, and political repression.” He called on all parties to cease such practices and uphold international humanitarian law. The report does not specify the number of verified cases but notes a sharp increase in credible reports during the reporting period.
Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, condemned the listing as “despicable and baseless” and accused the UN of bias. “This is a black mark not on Israel, but on the United Nations itself,” he said in a statement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office described the decision as “hypocritical” and argued that Israel operates under strict legal codes of conduct.
Human rights organisations, however, welcomed the move. Amnesty International’s UN representative, Sherine Tadros, said the blacklist “sends a clear message that sexual violence as a weapon of war will not be tolerated, regardless of the perpetrator.” She urged the Security Council to take follow-up action.
The blacklist, established in 2010 under Security Council Resolution 1888, is intended to name and shame offenders and to facilitate accountability. It does not impose automatic sanctions but can trigger further investigation by the International Criminal Court. Inclusion on the list is based on information from UN field missions, member states, and civil society groups.
This development comes amid increasing international scrutiny of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. More than 37,000 Palestinians have been killed since the outbreak of hostilities in October 2023, according to the Gaza health ministry. The International Court of Justice is currently hearing a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide, a charge Israel denies.
The UN report also blacklists the Hamas military wing and other Palestinian armed groups for sexual violence during the 7 October attacks on southern Israel. Israeli officials have repeatedly highlighted those attacks as justification for their military campaign.
The inclusion of Israel is likely to exacerbate tensions between the UN and the Israeli government, which has long accused the organisation of anti-Israel bias. It also places the Biden administration in a difficult position as it seeks to balance support for Israel with a stated commitment to international human rights norms.
For now, the diplomatic fallout is immediate. Israel has announced it will temporarily suspend cooperation with certain UN agencies pending a review of the report. The European Union has called for a transparent investigation into the allegations. The Security Council is expected to discuss the report in closed session later this week.
