Israel announced it would be severing ties with the United Nations' Secretary-General's Office following the UN's decision to blacklist the state over using sexual violence in the war against Palestinians.
Following the announcement, in a lengthy tweet, Israel condemned the listing, describing it as "shameful and absurd", as well as denying the allegations.
"Given that António Guterres has chosen to violate every standard of honesty, integrity, and professionalism, Israel has decided to sever all ties with the Secretary-General's Office," Israel's Foreign Ministry wrote on X, adding that it will wait until a new UN Secretary-General is appointed, with the chief's term set to end on 31 December 2026.
The ministry accused Guterres of covering up UN workers who allegedly took part in the 7 October attacks, a claim that has been refuted. In response to the post, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counterterrorism, Ben Saul, called for Israel to "sever all ties" with perpetrators of sexual violence by Israeli forces, rather than take aim at Guterres. "Instead of 'severing all ties' with the UN Secretary-General for exposing sexual violence by Israeli forces, I urge Israel to sever all ties with any perpetrators in its ranks - and to prosecute and punish them," Saul wrote on X.
In its 2026 edition of the Secretary-General's Report on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, which covers the year 2025, the UN had verified thirteen instances of sexual violence against Palestinians by Israel's armed forces in 2025, in addition to eighteen cases in 2023 and 2024.
One case includes an incident in July 2024 at Israel's notorious Sde Teiman detention facility, where CCTV footage showed Israeli soldiers sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee with a metal rod, which rights groups said reflects a wider pattern of abuse within Israeli detention facilities. Guterres previously put Israel "on notice" for possibly being added to the list, citing "significant concerns" over patterns of sexual violence and other forms of abuse in conflict settings.
The UN has not formally confirmed the listing. Being formally included means Israel would join a list of state and non-state actors credibly suspected of committing conflict-related sexual violence, and last for a minimum of one year if sufficient evidence is found.
The blacklisting has stirred anger in Israel, with the state's ambassador to the UN, Danny Dannon, condemning the move, describing it as "blood libel" and a "political decision", while war cabinet member, Benny Gantz , said the UN is "an antisemitic and hypocritical body suffering from severe moral blindness".
At the same time, Israel also froze relations with the office of the UN's Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten , and cancelled a planned visit.
Rights groups frequently denounce the mistreatment and abuse of Palestinian detainees held in Israeli jails, with various reports detailing, starvation, beatings, and torture .
The latest developments come after Israel said it was taking legal action against the New York Times earlier this month for publishing Palestinians' testimonies of sexual abuse by Israeli forces in its article titled 'The Silence That Meets The Rape of Palestinians'.
At the time Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned it as "blood libel".