UN chief puts Israel, Russia 'on notice' over conflict-related sexual violence accusations

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Israel and Russia that he has serious concerns regarding patterns of sexual violence by their armed and security forces, according to a report seen by news agency Reuters.

Alleged crimes include genital violence, prolonged forced nudity of captives, and abusive strip searches for humiliation and interrogation.

In his annual report to the Security Council on conflict-related sexual violence, Guterres put Israel and Russia “on notice” that they could be listed next year among parties “credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of rape or other forms of sexual violence.”

Guterres cited “significant concerns regarding patterns of certain forms of sexual violence consistently documented by the United Nations.”

Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon dismissed the claims as baseless, saying the UN should focus on “the shocking war crimes and sexual violence of Hamas and the release of all hostages.”

Hamas, whose October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel triggered the current Gaza war, was listed in the report as a group “credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of rape or other forms of sexual violence.”

Senior Hamas official Basem Naim rejected the allegations, calling them “new attempts to use lies to divert attention from the ongoing brutal crimes committed by this fascist government and its army against our people in Gaza.”

Credible information

Guterres said he is “gravely concerned about credible information of violations by Israeli armed and security forces” against Palestinians in multiple prisons, a detention centre, and a military base, noting documented cases of genital violence, forced nudity, and abusive strip searches.

He added that Israel has provided limited information on accountability measures despite witness testimony and digital evidence.

Similarly, Guterres expressed concern over credible reports of violations by Russian forces and affiliated armed groups, mainly against Ukrainian prisoners of war in 50 official and 22 unofficial detention facilities in Ukraine and Russia.

Documented abuses include genital violence, electrocution, beatings, burns, forced stripping, and prolonged nudity used to humiliate and extract confessions.

Russia’s U.N. mission had not responded to the claims, and authorities have not engaged with Guterres’ special envoy.

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.