The United Nations has placed Israel on its “blacklist” of entities suspected of committing sexual violence in conflict , placing the Israeli Prison Service and multiple other Israeli entities on the list.
The UN's move follows mounting documentation by human rights organisations accusing Israel of the systemic use of rape and sexual violence by Israeli forces and prison guards, particularly in the context of the war on Gaza and mass detention of Palestinians.
Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Dannon, condemned the move on Thursday as “outrageous”.
Speaking after reports emerged of the decision, Dannon dismissed it as “another lie from the UN” driven by politics rather than evidence.
“This is a political decision separate from the facts and reality,” Dannon said, claiming that Israel had cooperated with the UN and provided information to challenge the allegations.
Among the most widely cited cases is a July 2024 incident at Israel’s Sde Teiman detention facility , where CCTV footage showed Israeli soldiers sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee with a metal rod, leaving him with serious injuries. Rights groups and legal experts have pointed to the case as evidence of a broader pattern of abuse within detention facilities.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had previously placed Israel “on notice” for possible inclusion on the list, citing “significant concerns” over patterns of sexual violence and other forms of abuse in conflict settings.
If formally included, Israel would join a list of state and non-state actors credibly suspected of committing conflict-related sexual violence . Placement on the list typically lasts for a minimum of one year if sufficient evidence is found.
Hamas was added to the list in August 2025, alongside other groups such as the Islamic State (IS) and Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces. Dannon criticised the comparison, stating: “To put us and Hamas terrorists on the same list – that’s unacceptable.”
Senior Israeli officials reacted angrily to the reported decision. War cabinet member Benny Gantz described the UN as “an antisemitic and hypocritical body suffering from severe moral blindness”.
“The UN's false blood libels and slanders against the IDF and the State of Israel will not divert us from our path,” he added.
In response, Israel has reportedly moved to freeze relations with the office of the UN’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, and cancelled a planned visit.
Israeli officials indicated that ties with the Secretary-General’s office would remain suspended while Guterres remains in post, with his term set to end on 31 December 2026.
The UN has not yet formally confirmed the listing, which is typically published as part of the Secretary-General’s annual report on conflict-related sexual violence.