'Disconnected from facts and reality': UN places Israel on sexual violence blacklist, alongside Hamas and ISIS

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon announced Thursday that the United Nations had placed Israel on its blacklist of entities accused of “sexual violence in conflict zones.”

Israel was added to the list ”alongside the world's most brutal terrorist organizations — Hamas and ISIS,” Danon posted on X.

Danon called the decision “a political decision, disconnected from facts and reality.” He also noted that Israel provided the U.N. with evidence to refute the claims of sexual violence and had invited U.N. representatives to conduct an examination.

“This is a political decision, disconnected from facts and reality,” Danon said, noting that “Israel provided evidence, documents and detailed answers to every claim. We invited U.N. representatives to come to the field and examine things closely, and of course, they chose not to do so.” 

“When facts do not fit the narrative, the U.N. simply changes the narrative,” Danon argued. “We will continue to stand for the truth, and expose the blood libels on every possible platform. The truth will prevail.” 

The U.N.’s blacklist on sexual violence in conflict zones is an international tool in the fight against war crimes. The list, published annually as part of the secretary-general’s report, includes countries, national armies and organizations accused of using rape and sexual violence as a systematic and deliberate tool to achieve military or political aims.

Entities added to the list remain on it for at least one year.

Last year, the U.N. added Hamas to the list, two years after the Oct. 7 massacre in southern Israel and the atrocities committed by the terrorists.

The inclusion of Hamas was originally opposed by U.N. Sec.-Gen. António Guterres. In response, the Israeli Foreign Ministry stated at the time Hamas' inclusion constitutes "an international seal of guilt for a particularly serious offense under international law, on the same level as war crimes and crimes against humanity.” 

According to Ynet News, one of the Israeli bodies included in the list is the Israel Prison Service (IPS), along with other Israeli authorities, reportedly in connection with allegations related to the Sde Teiman case, which were later dropped.

Israeli authorities believe that heavy pressure was placed on Guterres following Hamas' inclusion on the list. Ynet reported that several meetings were held between Danon's team and Guterres' representative and her team over the past year. 

Israel provided documents, data and a detailed response to the allegations of sexual abuse raised in the reports and drafts sent to Jerusalem. It also invited the Guterres' staff to visit and investigate the claims. However, despite the information and explanations provided, Guterres decided to include Israel on the list.

At the same time, Danon told Ynet that Israel will freeze relations with the Guterres and will cancel a planned visit to Israel by Pramila Patten, the U.N. representative on sexual violence in conflict. 

Israel informed the U.N. that it will not maintain contact with the secretary-general’s office while António Guterres remains in office.

This announcement comes after the publication of an opinion column in The New York Times, which also accused Israel of sexual violence against Palestinian prisoners. Israel has threatened to file a defamation lawsuit against the newspaper.

The announcement also comes after the release of a report documenting Hamas’ use of sexual violence during the Oct. 7 attacks, based on testimony from hundreds of witnesses, along with forensic evidence collected by the military, police and first responders.

Ambassador Danon told Ynet, “Anyone who is capable of including Israel on the same list as Hamas' terrorists and rapists has no moral right to ask to be involved.” 

“Antonio Guterres, who justified the October 7 massacre, whitewashed the involvement of UN employees in the massacre, and led the organization to an unprecedented low, is using the last months of his term to advance political and false accusations against Israel,” Danon said. “In light of this conduct, Israel has decided to freeze its relations with the Office of the UN Secretary-General and will wait for a professional and decent Secretary-General to take office.” 

This article was originally published by All Israel News.