UN adds Israel and Russia to blacklist for sexual violence in conflict
Organization cites abuse, including rape of male detainees, by security forces of governments which have blocked UN investigators
TL;DR
- The UN has added Israel and Russia to a blacklist for sexual violence in conflict.
- The UN verified sexual abuse of 31 Palestinian men, women and children from Gaza and the West Bank between 2023 and 2025 by Israeli forces.
- Israeli attacks included repeated gang-rapes and sexual violence as torture, with violations such as rape with objects and targeted genital attacks.
- Israel barred UN experts and has threatened Palestinian detainees reporting abuse.
- Russia is accused of systematic sexual violence against Ukrainians, including rape and gang-rape, with investigators verifying 310 cases.
- Russia has obstructed investigations by barring monitors from accessing prisoners of war and detained civilians.
- Israel and Russia deny the use of sexual violence by their military.
- Israel's ambassador to the UN stated the country cut ties with the UN secretary general in response to the blacklisting.
- The report found conflict-related sexual violence has risen sharply worldwide, overwhelmingly targeting women and girls, but Israel and Russia also targeted men.
- The UN had already added Hamas to the sexual violence blacklist.
- Ukrainian forces have also committed conflict-related sexual violence, with 31 incidents verified since 2022.