UN Secretary-General António Guterres has put Israel on notice that it could be included in the upcoming UN annual report on conflict-related sexual violence, citing "significant concerns" about documented patterns of sexual violence by Israeli forces against Palestinian detainees. The warning, delivered in a letter to Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon on August 12, marks an escalation in the UN's scrutiny of Israeli military conduct during the Gaza war.
Israeli Officials Strongly Reject Allegations
Israeli officials dismissed the allegations as baseless and biased. Ambassador Danon condemned what he called the UN's "systematic bias," stating that "the Secretary-General chooses once again to adopt as their word baseless accusations, which are steeped in biased publications". He urged the UN to focus instead on "the shocking war crimes and sexual violence of Hamas, and the release of all hostages".
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar previously confronted Guterres during a Security Council session, criticizing the Secretary-General's response to Hamas atrocities while highlighting what he described as "relentless and compulsive anti-Israel posting".
UN Concerns Over Israeli Detention Facilities
Guterres' letter detailed "credible information of violations by Israeli armed and security forces, perpetrated against Palestinians in several prisons, a detention center and military base," specifically referencing the Sde Teiman facility. The UN acknowledged that Israel's "consistent denial of access to United Nations monitors" has made it "challenging to make a definitive determination regarding patterns, trends and systematicity of sexual violence".
The warning comes after mounting allegations of abuse at Israeli detention facilities, including Sde Teiman, where leaked surveillance footage allegedly showed soldiers sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee in July 2024. Nine Israeli soldiers were subsequently arrested in connection with the incident.
Broader Context of UN Sexual Violence Reports
The UN's annual Conflict-Related Sexual Violence report documents sexual violence committed in armed conflicts worldwide. A March 2025 UN Commission of Inquiry report concluded that Israel had "increasingly employed sexual, reproductive and other forms of gender-based violence against Palestinians as part of a broader effort to undermine their right to self-determination".
However, UN investigations have also documented sexual violence by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attacks. UN Special Representative Pramila Patten found "reasonable grounds to believe that conflict-related sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, occurred across multiple locations" during the attacks. The UN also found "clear and convincing information" that Israeli hostages in Gaza were subjected to sexual violence.
Guterres has demanded Israel take "necessary measures to ensure immediate cessation of all acts of sexual violence" and implement accountability mechanisms, warning that Israel's compliance will directly affect its potential inclusion in the next annual report.
Israeli Officials Strongly Reject Allegations
Israeli officials dismissed the allegations as baseless and biased. Ambassador Danon condemned what he called the UN's "systematic bias," stating that "the Secretary-General chooses once again to adopt as their word baseless accusations, which are steeped in biased publications". He urged the UN to focus instead on "the shocking war crimes and sexual violence of Hamas, and the release of all hostages".
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar previously confronted Guterres during a Security Council session, criticizing the Secretary-General's response to Hamas atrocities while highlighting what he described as "relentless and compulsive anti-Israel posting".
UN Concerns Over Israeli Detention Facilities
Guterres' letter detailed "credible information of violations by Israeli armed and security forces, perpetrated against Palestinians in several prisons, a detention center and military base," specifically referencing the Sde Teiman facility. The UN acknowledged that Israel's "consistent denial of access to United Nations monitors" has made it "challenging to make a definitive determination regarding patterns, trends and systematicity of sexual violence".
The warning comes after mounting allegations of abuse at Israeli detention facilities, including Sde Teiman, where leaked surveillance footage allegedly showed soldiers sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee in July 2024. Nine Israeli soldiers were subsequently arrested in connection with the incident.
Broader Context of UN Sexual Violence Reports
The UN's annual Conflict-Related Sexual Violence report documents sexual violence committed in armed conflicts worldwide. A March 2025 UN Commission of Inquiry report concluded that Israel had "increasingly employed sexual, reproductive and other forms of gender-based violence against Palestinians as part of a broader effort to undermine their right to self-determination".
However, UN investigations have also documented sexual violence by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attacks. UN Special Representative Pramila Patten found "reasonable grounds to believe that conflict-related sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, occurred across multiple locations" during the attacks. The UN also found "clear and convincing information" that Israeli hostages in Gaza were subjected to sexual violence.
Guterres has demanded Israel take "necessary measures to ensure immediate cessation of all acts of sexual violence" and implement accountability mechanisms, warning that Israel's compliance will directly affect its potential inclusion in the next annual report.