Palestine welcomes Israel's inclusion on UN sexual violence blacklist

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry on Saturday issued a statement supporting the UN's decision to place Israel on its "List of Shame" for perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict zones, describing the designation as a scientific and logical outcome of documented abuses against Palestinian detainees.

Systematic abuse allegations

The ministry accused Israeli official and unofficial institutions of practicing torture, rape, and sexual violence against Palestinians in occupied territory, particularly within detention facilities. It stated that Israel has employed sexual violence as a weapon of war — constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity — while deploying systematic policies designed to intimidate civilians and create conditions forcing displacement.

International documentation

The designation follows extensive documentation cited by Palestinian authorities including irrefutable evidence, international reports, and testimonies from victims subjected to sexual violence during arrest and interrogation. A recent New York Times opinion piece by columnist Nicholas Kristof cited interviews with 14 Palestinians describing assaults by prison guards and soldiers, alongside reports from Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, Save the Children, and B’Tselem alleging systematic abuse.

Israeli reaction

Israel's ambassador to the UN Danny Danon on Thursday announced the decision to end contacts with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' office, calling Israel's addition "outrageous" and alleging the decision represents part of a campaign against Israel. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry expressed support for Guterres amid what it described as Israeli attempts to influence the UN report, calling on the international community to activate protection mechanisms and pursue accountability for documented violations.