Israel Cuts Ties with UN Secretary-General's Office Over 'Blacklist' for Sexual Violence

The UN's Credible Information

The UN had previously warned Israel that it risked being named in the report. Secretary-General Guterres had cautioned that Israel would face inclusion in the 2026 annual report unless it took steps to end all acts of sexual violence.

The UN's concerns center on the treatment of Palestinian detainees. Guterres stated there is "credible information about violations by Israeli security forces against Palestinians in several prisons, an internment camp, and a military base," leading to "significant concerns regarding patterns of certain forms of sexual violence."

Danon rejected the UN's findings, accusing the organization of bias. "When the facts don't fit the picture, the UN simply changes the narrative," he said.

A History of Strained Relations

The diplomatic rupture is the latest in a series of escalating tensions between Israel and the UN chief. Israel declared Guterres "persona non grata" in October 2024, barring him from entering the country.

The UN report highlights that Israel denied access to UN inspectors seeking to investigate the allegations. The organization "Physicians for Human Rights Israel" has separately accused Israel of holding hundreds of medical workers from Gaza without charge and abusing them in detention facilities, including sexual abuse.

The Broader Investigation

The current crisis has roots in the investigation of the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023. In January 2025, the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, made her investigation into Hamas's war crimes conditional on also being permitted to examine allegations of sexual violence against Palestinian detainees by Israeli soldiers.

Danon's announcement makes clear the break in relations will last at least until the end of Guterres' term later this year. "Israel will cut off contact with the office of the UN Secretary-General until the end of his term," he stated.

The move signals a significant deterioration in the relationship between Israel and the United Nations' highest office, as the international body continues to document alleged abuses linked to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.