Israel has broken all contact with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres following the decision to include Israeli authorities on a UN sexual violence blacklist. The list, part of an upcoming report, names parties suspected of or responsible for sexual violence in armed conflict, citing credible allegations against Israeli security forces for abuses against Palestinians in prisons and detention centers [1, 2].
The report also includes Hamas for attacks in October 2023 and alleged mistreatment of hostages [1, 2]. Israel denies all allegations, calling its inclusion on the list "shameful and absurd" and accusing the United Nations of politicization. Ambassador Danny Danon declared, "We are done with this secretary-general. The decision to blacklist Israel and accuse us of using sexual violence as a weapon of war is an outrageous decision." He added, "The secretary-general and his team continue to spread lies against Israel. To put us and Hamas terrorists on the same list, that's unacceptable" [1].
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein criticized the UN, describing it as "a politicized and corrupt organization that has abandoned its founding principles and systematically targets Israel as its primary mission" [1]. Meanwhile, UN inspectors have been denied access to the Israeli detention facilities referenced in the report, limiting independent verification [1, 2].
Despite Israel severing contacts, the UN secretary-general’s office said the door remains open for dialogue. Spokesman Stephane Dujarric stated, "For our part, the secretary-general’s door remains open" [1].
The dispute dates back to August 2025 when the UN first warned Israel could be added to the blacklist. Israel officially cut contact with Guterres on May 28, 2026, following the report's imminent release [1, 2].
