Russia and Israel Added to UN Sexual Violence Blacklist

For the first time, the United Nations has listed Israel and Russia as suspected perpetrators of sexual violence during armed conflict.

The listing follows Secretary-General António Guterres' annual report documenting dozens of verified cases, including rape, gang rape, sexual torture and violence committed during detention.

In the case of Israel, the report covers incidents in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, where victims were said to include men, women and children. For Russia, the UN has registered hundreds of cases of sexual violence in Ukraine. Israel strongly rejected the decision, describing it as political.

Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, said the country had provided explanations for all the allegations and had allowed a review of the situation.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry subsequently announced the suspension of contacts with the office of the UN Secretary-General. Although listing does not automatically mean sanctions, it represents serious reputational damage.

(reuters, mja)