The United Nations is adding Israel to its “blacklist” of countries and organizations suspected of committing sexual violence in conflict zones, according to Israel’s YNet news.
The move prompted Israel to suspend communications and cooperation with outgoing U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and his office.
Israel will be listed alongside the Palestinian militant group Hamas, whose members the U.N. found committed sexual violence during the Oct. 7, 2023, raid on southern Israel, YNet news reported.
Israeli officials said Mr. Guterres, who is in his final months in office, was pressured into adding Israel to the list in response to Hamas’ inclusion. Israeli
Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon called the decision “outrageous.”
“The Secretary General and his team continue to spread lies against Israel,” Mr. Danon posted Thursday on X. “To put us, and Hamas terrorists on the same list, that’s unacceptable. We are a strong democracy.”
The decision to add Israel to the blacklist comes amid the Israeli government’s announcement that it will sue The New York Times and columnist Nicholas Kristof for defamation following the publication of an opinion column detailing allegations of sexual abuse against Palestinian detainees.
“We saw the lies in The New York Times, and now we see another lie coming from the U.N.,” Mr. Danon posted.
A New York Times spokesperson called the threatened lawsuit “without merit” and defended Mr. Kristof’s column as “deeply reported” and corroborated.
Mr. Danon said U.N. officials declined an invitation to come to Israel and investigate the allegations of sexual violence.
“They chose not to come. They chose to continue with the campaign against Israel,” he said. “We are done with this secretary general.”
