UN Warns Israel Over Possible Sexual Violence Blacklist; Hamas Named for First Time

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has formally warned Israel it could be added next year to the United Nations blacklist of countries and groups accused of systematic sexual violence in conflict.

In a letter to Israel’s UN envoy Danny Danon, Guterres cited “grave concern” over allegations against Israeli security forces involving Palestinian detainees in prisons, a detention facility, and a military base. While Israel does not appear in the annex of the 2025 annual report on conflict-related sexual violence, the warning places it “on notice” pending further investigation.

Guterres said Israel’s refusal to grant UN inspectors access has hampered verification, but urged immediate steps to avoid blacklisting, including directives against sexual violence, enforcement mechanisms, independent investigations, and open access for UN monitoring and aid agencies.

The draft report also blacklists Hamas for the first time, citing new evidence of systematic sexual violence during the October 7, 2023, massacre and against hostages held in Gaza. Hamas was left off last year due to what the UN called insufficient direct evidence.

Among the allegations against Israel is the reported rape of a Palestinian detainee during transfer to the Sde Teiman facility, a post–October 7 holding site for captured Hamas members and other suspects. Nine soldiers were later arrested in connection with the case.

Danon has rejected the allegations as “unfounded” and “based on biased publications,” calling for Hamas to face sanctions and for the report to be amended to reflect what he says is the absence of a systematic pattern of abuse by Israeli forces. His office warned that inclusion on the list, which currently names groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda, could trigger sanctions or other punitive measures.