UN blacklists Israel over conflict-related sexual violence

Israel has been added to a United Nations blacklist over allegations of conflict-related sexual violence in Palestinian territories, according to Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon, who sharply condemned the move as “political” and detached from reality.

The development emerged on Thursday (May 28) after reports indicated that the UN included Israeli authorities in its annual blacklist tied to conflict-related sexual violence.

In response, Israel reportedly suspended its engagement with the office of UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

The decision follows a series of reports published since October 2023 by international media outlets and human rights organisations alleging rape and other forms of sexual violence against Palestinians by Israeli forces and prison authorities.

According to reports cited by The Jerusalem Post, the 2026 blacklist specifically includes the Israeli Prison Service (IPS), while several other Israeli institutions remain under observation for possible future inclusion.

Reacting to the decision, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon accused the UN of placing Israel “in the same category as Hamas, ISIS and some of the world’s most brutal terrorist organisations.”

He described the move as a “moral disgrace” and evidence of what he called the collapse of the UN’s remaining credibility.

The blacklist forms part of the UN Secretary-General’s annual report on conflict-related sexual violence, which identifies state and non-state actors accused of systematically committing rape or other forms of sexual violence during armed conflicts. Parties included in the list are generally kept under monitoring for at least one year.

In the 2025 edition of the report, a total of 63 state and non-state actors — including Hamas — were listed for alleged involvement in conflict-related sexual violence.