Israel Severs Ties With UN Chief After Report Names State for Sexual Violence
The United Nations has added Israel and Russia to its list of parties responsible for conflict-related sexual violence, citing credible evidence of rape and genital violence. Israel’s foreign ministry announced it would sever all ties with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in response.
A United Nations report released on 29 May 2026 has formally added Israel and Russia to a list of parties responsible for conflict-related sexual violence. The document verified nearly 10,000 cases globally in 2025, a figure that represents more than double the number recorded in the previous year. The inclusion of Israel prompted an immediate diplomatic escalation, with the Israeli foreign ministry announcing it would sever all ties with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
The report cited credible information regarding sexual violence committed by Israeli security forces against Palestinian detainees in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Specific allegations included rape, gang rape, genital violence, forced nudity, and unjustified strip searches. The UN noted that survivors included journalists and human rights defenders, and in some instances, violations were filmed or photographed. Five male victims suffered severe rectal bleeding or swelling for multiple days or weeks following assaults that occurred during detention and interrogation at military camps and checkpoints.
Pramila Patten, the UN official who authored the report, stated she received no substantive response from Israel regarding preventive measures. Although an invitation for inspectors to visit detention facilities had been extended, Patten noted the inspection was suspended due to disagreements over the scope of access and the ongoing war in Gaza. She confirmed that while Israel had invited a representative, the government failed to provide details on initial steps, command information on access, or accountability measures.
In response to these findings, Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon posted on X that the government had invited the UN representative to check what he termed “ridiculous allegations,” accusing the organisation of choosing not to come. The Israeli government’s reaction underscores the tension between the UN’s monitoring mechanisms and state sovereignty during active conflict.
The report also documented 310 cases of sexual violence perpetrated by Russian armed and security forces in Ukraine. These cases involved rape, gang rape, genital mutilation, electric shocks, and beatings to the genitals, affecting 280 men, 26 women, and four girls. The annex lists 77 parties responsible for patterns of conflict-related sexual violence, including 62 non-state actors, with three non-state armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo added to the list.
Being added to the list does not automatically trigger sanctions but can cause significant reputational damage and bars repeated offenders from UN peacekeeping operations. Patten described the global increase as the “very tip of the iceberg,” attributing the trend to record violent conflicts and a context of impunity where perpetrators feel emboldened because the crime is almost cost-free.
