A documented range of violations against Palestinian women, men, girls, and boys, including accusations of rape and sexual violence by Israeli forces against Palestinian detainees.
New York, N.Y. – U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres issued stark warnings to both Israel and Russia, placing them “on notice” regarding documented patterns of sexual violence allegedly perpetrated by their armed forces and security personnel in conflict zones.
The unprecedented dual notification, detailed in the Secretary-General’s annual report to the U.N. Security Council on conflict-related sexual violence, signifies a critical escalation in international scrutiny over these grave violations.
Grave Concerns Over Systematic Sexual Violence by Forces in Gaza, Ukraine
The report, seen by Reuters, states that both nations could be formally listed next year among parties “credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of rape or other forms of sexual violence” unless decisive corrective actions are taken. This potential designation carries significant reputational and diplomatic weight within the U.N. framework.
Israel Accused of Systematic Abuse in Detention
Secretary-General Guterres expressed being “gravely concerned about credible information of violations by Israeli armed and security forces” against Palestinians.
The report details allegations occurring within several prisons, a detention centre, and a military base. Specifically, U.N. documentation points to disturbing patterns including “genital violence, prolonged forced nudity and repeated strip searches conducted in an abusive and degrading manner.”
A significant obstacle to definitive conclusions, Guterres noted, is Israel’s denial of access to U.N. monitors.
This lack of cooperation makes it “challenging to make a definitive determination” regarding the scope, trends, and systematic nature of the alleged sexual violence.
The report strongly urges the Israeli government “to take the necessary measures to ensure immediate cessation of all acts of sexual violence, and make and implement specific time-bound commitments.”
These commitments should include thorough investigations of credible allegations, the issuance of unambiguous orders and codes of conduct explicitly prohibiting sexual violence for all military and security personnel, and granting unimpeded access to U.N. investigators.
These findings build upon a March 2024 report by U.N.-backed human rights experts who accused Israel of “the systematic use of sexual, reproductive and other gender-based violence.”
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel asserted it had documented a range of violations against Palestinian women, men, girls, and boys, including accusations of rape and sexual violence by Israeli forces against Palestinian detainees.
Russia Faces Scrutiny Over Prisoner Treatment
Of course, Israel’s ambassador to the U.N. swiftly rejected the Secretary-General’s concerns on Tuesday, dismissing them as “baseless accusations.” Circulating his correspondence with Guterres, the ambassador stated the allegations “are steeped in biased publications.”
He redirected focus, insisting, “The U.N. must focus on the shocking war crimes and sexual violence of Hamas and the release of all hostages.” Danon emphasized that “Israel will not shy away from protecting its citizens and will continue to act in accordance with international law.”
Adding context to the ongoing concerns, in July 2024, the Israeli military announced it had detained and was questioning nine soldiers over the alleged sexual abuse of a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman prison facility.
This facility was established specifically to hold individuals arrested in Gaza. Israeli media reports at the time indicated the Palestinian prisoner suffered severe injuries requiring hospitalization following an alleged gang rape by military guards.
Parallel concerns were raised regarding Russia. Guterres wrote he was “gravely concerned about credible information of violations by Russian armed and security forces and affiliated armed groups.” The allegations primarily involve Ukrainian prisoners of war held across approximately 50 official and 22 unofficial detention facilities in both Ukraine and Russia.
The documented cases paint a harrowing picture: “a significant number of documented incidents of genital violence, including electrocution, beatings and burns to the genitals, and forced stripping and prolonged nudity, used to humiliate and elicit confessions or information.”
Defiance and Denials Greet U.N. Findings
The report notes a distinct lack of engagement from Russian authorities on this critical issue. Guterres stated that Russian officials have not cooperated with his Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten. Russia’s mission to the U.N. in New York did not provide an immediate comment on the report’s specific allegations.
Demand for Action: Investigations and Access
The core demand from the U.N. Secretariat is clear and urgent: both Israel and Russia must implement concrete measures to halt alleged abuses and ensure accountability. For Israel, this includes ending the blockade on U.N. monitoring access. For Russia, it necessitates opening channels of communication and cooperation with U.N. mechanisms investigating these war crimes.
The report serves as a final warning; failure to demonstrate tangible progress and compliance will result in the formal listing of both nations’ forces in next year’s annex, publicly branding them as credibly suspected perpetrators of systematic sexual violence in conflict. This potential designation represents a significant escalation in international pressure and condemnation.
The inclusion of both a major Western ally and a permanent member of the Security Council in such a warning is highly unusual and underscores the severity of the documented allegations. It places intense focus on the conduct of state actors in two of the world’s most volatile and scrutinized conflicts.
The coming months will be crucial in determining whether either nation takes the steps demanded by the international community’s highest diplomatic office to address these grave accusations or faces the reputational and diplomatic consequences of formal censure.
Summary
Secretary-General Guterres warns Israel and Russia their armed forces face U.N. listing for systematic sexual violence. Citing grave concerns over abuses against Palestinians and Ukrainian prisoners, he demands immediate cessation, investigations, unimpeded U.N. access, and clear codes of conduct. Both nations face potential reputational damage if corrective action isn’t taken.
#UNAbuseNotice #IsraelRussia #ConflictSexualViolence #Guterres
#WarCrimes #HumanRights #UNSC #Gaza #UkraineWar #Accountability
TAGS: António Guterres, Israel Defense Forces, Russian Armed Forces, Sexual Violence in Conflict,
Gaza War, United Nations, War Crimes, Human Rights Violations, Russo-Ukrainian War, U.N. Security Council
