Israeli authorities are set to be added to a United Nations list of parties suspected of, or responsible for, sexual violence in armed conflict zones, Israel‘s ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said Thursday in comments slamming the decision.
Danon said that Israel is breaking all contact with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, saying it was “outrageous” the country is being blacklisted over alleged sexual violence.
“We are done with this secretary-general,” Ambassador Danny Danon said in a video posted on X.
“The decision to blacklist Israel and accuse us of using sexual violence as a weapon of war is an outrageous decision,” he said, referring to an upcoming report from Guterres’ office.
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The UN secretary-general’s annual report on conflict-related sexual violence is customarily presented to relevant states ahead of publication.
Last August, the report warned that Israel could be added to the list, which also includes Palestinian militant group Hamas.
At the time, the UN cited “credible information” regarding sexual violence allegedly committed by Israeli security forces against Palestinian detainees in prisons and other detention centres, and saying UN inspectors had been denied access to the facilities.
Palestinians have for years reported what they describe as widespread physical and sexual violence against both men and women in Israeli detention centres.
A New York Times investigation published in early May spoke with 14 Palestinian men and women who alleged they had been sexually assaulted by Israeli settlers or members of the security forces.
The Israeli mission to the UN said in a statement it will have no contact with the secretary-general’s office as long as Guterres serves as head of the organisation.
“The secretary-general and his team continue to spread lies against Israel,” Danon claimed. “To put us and Hamas terrorists on the same list, that’s unacceptable.”
Guterres’s spokesman said they were aware of Danon’s remarks.
“For our part, the secretary-general’s door remains open,” Stephane Dujarric said.
Relations between the UN and Israel are fraught and have reached an all-time low since Israel launched its devastating war on Gaza following the Hamas-led terror attacks on October 7, 2023.
Israeli authorities have reproached Guterres and other UN officials for criticising its bombardment and ground invasion of the Palestinian territory, which health officials say have killed more than 72,000 Palestinians, including more than 900 during the US-backed ceasefire.
The UN chief was declared “personal non grata” in Israel in 2024.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
This story originally appeared on France24
