Report: UN adds Israel to blacklist for committing sexual violence in conflict zones

The United Nations is expected to announce a decision to add Israeli entities to a blacklist of countries that commit sexual violence in conflict zones, The Jerusalem Post reported. 

The Israeli Prison Service is among several entities added to the list, alongside other Israeli authorities, according to the report. 

Among the entities that have already been placed on the list are the likes of Hamas.

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, slammed the decision, adding that they will freeze cooperation with the office of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for the move. 

“The UN Secretary-General has put Israel on the same blacklist as Hamas, ISIS, and the most depraved terrorist organizations in the world,” Danon told the news outlet. “This is a moral disgrace and a complete collapse of any credibility left to the UN.”

“Anyone who is able to include Israel on the same list as Hamas terrorists and rapists has no sense of morality,” he added.

Various news reports – including ones by Middle East Eye – and evidence collected by rights groups have noted a dramatic increase in the use of sexual violence by Israeli soldiers and settlers following the start of the genocidal war on Gaza. 

Israeli detention facilities have been especially criticised by government, rights groups and leading experts for its sexual abuse of prisoners.