The United Nations has added Israel to its blacklist of parties responsible for sexual violence in conflict, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from the British government, which accuses the UN of applying double standards. The listing, published in the Secretary-General’s annual report on conflict-related sexual violence, covers the period of the ongoing Gaza offensive, which began in October 2023.
The report documents “credible allegations” of sexual violence perpetrated by Israeli forces against Palestinian detainees and civilians during the military operation. It also cites incidents from the 7 October 2023 attacks by Hamas, which the report condemns, but the inclusion of Israel has ignited a diplomatic firestorm.
Britain’s Foreign Secretary expressed dismay, stating that the UK “strongly condemns the UN’s decision to place Israel on the list, equating the actions of a democratic state with those of terrorist groups.” The statement added that such a move “undermines the credibility of the UN and its mechanisms,” and called for a review of the criteria used to compile the list.
The blacklist, established in 2010, names state and non-state actors for whom there is “credible evidence” of sexual violence in armed conflict. It includes groups such as ISIS, Boko Haram, and the Taliban. Adding Israel, a nation with robust legal systems and international oversight, is unprecedented for a Western-aligned democracy.
Human rights organisations, however, have welcomed the listing. Amnesty International’s UN representative noted that “no country should be above accountability. The evidence of sexual violence by Israeli forces is mounting, and the UN has a duty to document it.” The group has released multiple reports detailing testimonies from Palestinian women and men subjected to strip searches, threats of rape, and invasive body cavity searches at checkpoints and detention centres.
The Israeli government has vehemently denied the allegations, calling them “antisemitic fabrications.” A spokesperson for the Israeli Defence Forces stated that “IDF soldiers operate with the highest moral standards, and any claims of sexual violence are baseless. This decision is a political witch hunt.”
The blacklist’s publication comes as the International Criminal Court is also investigating potential war crimes in Gaza. The ICC’s prosecutor, Karim Khan, has faced similar accusations of bias from Israeli and American officials for pursuing arrest warrants against both Hamas leaders and Israeli leaders.
From a scientific perspective, the confluence of armed conflict and sexual violence follows grim statistical patterns. Data from the Uppsala Conflict Data Program shows that sexual violence in armed conflict has increased by 50% over the past decade, with state forces being the perpetrators in nearly 30% of documented cases. The mechanisms for accountability remain fragile, often dependent on geopolitical leverage.
The UK’s condemnation highlights a broader fracture in international consensus. While Britain stands by Israel, other European nations have expressed support for the UN’s documentation. The European Union’s foreign policy chief noted that the UN report “should be taken seriously,” but stopped short of endorsing the blacklist.
For those following the crisis, this development adds a new layer to an already complex tragedy. The data points are clear: the cycle of violence in the region shows no sign of abating, and the mechanisms designed to protect civilians continue to falter. The urgency for a resolution grows, but the pathways remain obscured by political manoeuvring and historical grievances.
As the world watches, the blacklist serves as a reminder of the long shadow cast by conflict. The numbers will be updated, the reports will be filed, but the human cost remains the truest measure. The planet warms, and the conflicts multiply. Science records the data; the rest is up to us.
