Russia and Israel Could Be Listed for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, the UN Chief Warns
Guterres suggests that Russia and Israel may be included by the UN due to reliable reports of sexual violence in conflict areas.
Israel and Russia have received a severe warning from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who said that their security and military forces may be officially labeled as “credibly suspected” of engaging in sexual abuse during wartime next year.
In his yearly report to the UN Security Council on sexual assault in conflict, Guterres issues a warning, pointing out recurring trends of abuse that UN monitors have recorded.
In the report, Guterres expressed “severe concern” over the accusations made against Israeli soldiers, especially in relation to how Palestinian captives were treated. The Secretary-General referenced instances of genital abuse, extended forced nudity, and degrading strip searches, citing evidence collected from a military base, a detention center, and many Israeli jails.
Israel’s unwillingness to allow access to UN monitors has made it challenging to ascertain whether these actions are part of a systematic policy, Guterres said. In spite of this, he called on the Israeli government to put an immediate stop to all sexual abuse, look into any credible claims, create binding norms of behavior, and permit UN oversight.
Israel was charged earlier this year by UN-appointed experts with using “systematic sexual, reproductive, and gender-based violence” against Palestinians. Nine Israeli soldiers were detained and the victim was hospitalized in one particularly gruesome episode involving the alleged gang rape of a Palestinian prisoner by Israeli soldiers at the Sde Teiman detention facility.
In response, Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, dismissed the accusations as politically motivated. The UN should focus on Hamas and the liberation of Israeli hostages, he said, accusing the organization of using biased sources.
The study addressed comparable issues with Russia, concentrating on alleged abuses of Ukrainian POWs by Russian military and associated organizations. In more than 70 detention centers in Russia and Ukraine, the UN reported cases of forced nudity, electric shocks, genital torture, and other cruel treatment intended to elicit intelligence or confessions.
Guterres demanded further cooperation from Russia and criticized the country’s lack of interaction with his special envoy. Similar to Israel, he suggested prompt inquiries and steps to hold people accountable.
As of right now, neither Russia nor Israel are mentioned in the Secretary-General’s list of violators. Both, however, might be added the next year if serious infractions continue or are not resolved, as Guterres’ report makes clear.
