By: Fern Sidman

In remarks that have sparked sharp pushback from Israeli officials, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has formally cautioned Israel that it could be named in the UN’s next annual report on sexual violence in conflict, World Israel News reported on Tuesday. The warning, delivered as part of the secretary-general’s ongoing oversight of conflict-related abuses, cited what Guterres described as “serious concern” regarding alleged incidents of sexual violence against Palestinians in Israeli prisons, detention centers, and military facilities.

According to the information provided in the World Israel News report, the secretary-general’s statement detailed a set of conditions Israel would need to meet in order to avoid being listed when the next report is compiled in 2025. These include the issuance of explicit orders from top levels of command prohibiting any form of sexual violence; the implementation of rigorous enforcement and disciplinary measures; the initiation of thorough investigations into all credible allegations; and the collection of personal, written pledges from senior commanders committing to uphold these standards.

Guterres further insisted that Israel must grant UN monitors unrestricted access to detention facilities and other relevant sites, enabling independent verification and facilitating humanitarian assistance. The UN would review compliance before the end of the current reporting period to determine whether Israel will appear in the 2025 edition of the report.

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations responded forcefully, rejecting what he characterized as the secretary-general’s reliance on unfounded and politically motivated claims. As the World Israel News report recounted, the ambassador accused Guterres of “once again” choosing to believe accusations “steeped in biased publications,” while ignoring or minimizing documented atrocities committed by Hamas.

“The UN must focus on the shocking war crimes and sexual violence of Hamas and the release of all hostages,” the ambassador stated. He underscored that Israel would continue to take every measure to defend its citizens in accordance with international law, regardless of external political pressure.

The exchange comes against the backdrop of a separate UN investigation into Hamas’s actions during and after the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. As the World Israel News report noted, in March of last year the UN itself concluded that Hamas militants committed acts of sexual violence against Israeli civilians and soldiers during the assault and that there is credible evidence such abuses may still be occurring against hostages held in Gaza.

The inquiry, led by UN Special Envoy on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten, was based on a two-week field mission collecting testimony, forensic evidence, and other material. The resulting report stated that investigators had uncovered “credible circumstantial information” suggestive of grave abuses, including genital mutilation, sexualized torture, and other forms of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.

According to the information contained in the World Israel News report, the UN team found “clear and convincing information” that some hostages taken to Gaza were subjected to various forms of conflict-related sexual violence, and that there were reasonable grounds to believe such violence was ongoing.

Diplomatic observers cited by World Israel News suggest that the secretary-general’s warning could mark a new point of contention between Israel and the UN, already strained by disputes over reporting on the Gaza conflict, the humanitarian situation, and alleged human rights violations.

While the UN maintains that its procedures are impartial and evidence-based, Israeli officials have long argued that the organization applies double standards, focusing disproportionate attention on Israel while downplaying or overlooking severe abuses by non-state actors such as Hamas.

Under the procedures outlined by Guterres, Israel has until the close of the current reporting period in 2025 to demonstrate compliance with the prescribed measures. The UN Secretariat will then assess whether to include Israel in its annual “Report on Sexual Violence in Conflict,” a high-profile document submitted to the Security Council and debated in open session.

If listed, Israel would join a roster of state and non-state actors accused of committing or failing to prevent sexual violence in armed conflict. The World Israel News report noted that inclusion in the report carries no automatic sanctions but can trigger calls for Security Council action, increased diplomatic pressure, and reputational harm on the global stage.

As the situation unfolds, World Israel News highlighted that the debate reflects a broader tension between addressing legitimate human rights concerns and acknowledging the security challenges posed by asymmetric warfare. Israel’s ongoing military operations against Hamas, particularly in Gaza, continue to generate intense international scrutiny.

For the UN, the case forms part of its larger mandate to prevent and respond to sexual violence in armed conflict worldwide. For Israel, it presents yet another front in a complex battle over narrative, legitimacy, and the framing of its conduct in international forums.

With the next reporting period already underway, both the UN and Israel appear poised for a protracted dispute over the allegations, the investigative process, and the weight given to competing bodies of evidence — a dispute that will likely draw significant attention when the 2025 report is released.