Israel to Cut Ties With U.N. Chief Over Its Inclusion on Sexual Violence Blacklist

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations said Israel would sever ties with the UN secretary general and his office after the office decided to include Israel in an upcoming annual report on conflict-related sexual violence. The ambassador said he was informed that Israel and its security services would be included based on alleged sexual abuse of Palestinian detainees. He rejected the decision as disconnected from facts and reality, denied the accusations, and accused the UN chief of lying while failing to fully investigate claims against Israel. Hamas was also included on a related list of countries and groups accused of using sexual violence as a weapon of war. Relations between Israel and the UN have worsened in recent years, including a 2024 designation of the UN chief as persona non grata by Israel’s foreign minister.

"To put us and Hamas terrorists on the same list, Mr. Danon said in a video. That's unacceptable. Friction between Israel and the United Nations has intensified in recent years, with Israel's foreign minister, Israel Katz, declaring Mr. Guterres persona non grata in 2024. It was a rare diplomatic designation that reflected Israel's broader tensions with the United Nations following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel that set off the war in Gaza."

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