UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has formally warned Israel it may be added to the UN’s “blacklist” of entities credibly accused of systematic sexual violence in conflict. The current draft of the UN’s 2025 report does not list Israel, but cites “grave concern” over allegations involving Israeli forces in prisons, a detention center, and a military base.
Guterres also blacklisted Hamas for the first time, citing documented sexual violence during the October 7, 2023, massacre and against hostages.
In a letter to Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon, Guterres outlined steps to avoid blacklisting, including issuing anti-sexual violence directives, enforcing discipline, investigating credible complaints, and granting UN access.
Danon rejected the allegations as “unfounded” and demanded Israel’s removal from consideration, while urging harsher sanctions on Hamas. He argued that comparing Israel to groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda was “absurd” and “grave.”
