UN Places Israeli Prison Service On Same Sexual Violence List As Hamas

The United Nations has added the Israeli Prison Service to its blacklist of parties suspected of conflict-related sexual violence, placing it alongside Hamas and other terror organizations in the UN’s monitoring framework for sexual violence in war zones.

Israel responded by freezing relations with UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s office and canceling a planned visit by UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten.

“The UN Secretary-General has put Israel on the same blacklist as Hamas, ISIS, and the most depraved terrorist organizations in the world,” Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said.

The blacklist is part of the UN’s annual conflict-related sexual violence reporting mechanism. Once added, a country or armed group remains on the list for at least one year. Hamas was added in August 2025 following findings by Patten’s office that there were “reasonable grounds” to believe Hamas terrorists committed rape and other sexual crimes during the October 7 massacre and against hostages held in Gaza.

In August 2025, Guterres also placed Israel “on notice” for possible inclusion over allegations involving Palestinian detainees. According to reports, the UN later determined that the Israeli Prison Service would be formally included in the 2026 report, while additional Israeli authorities entered a monitoring framework for possible future inclusion.

Israeli officials claim that after Hamas was added to the list, heavy diplomatic pressure was placed on Guterres to include Israel as well.

Over the past year, Israeli officials and diplomats held multiple meetings with representatives of the Secretary-General’s office. Israel said it provided documents, data and detailed responses to every allegation raised in UN reports and drafts. Israeli officials also invited UN personnel to visit Israel and inspect evidence related to Hamas atrocities and allegations against Israeli authorities.

Nevertheless, the UN proceeded with the decision.

“When the facts do not fit the narrative, the UN simply changes the narrative,” Danon wrote on X.

Israel also announced that it would not maintain contact with the Secretary-General’s office while Guterres remains in office. His term is scheduled to end on December 31, 2026.

“Anyone who is able to include Israel on the same list as Hamas terrorists and rapists has no sense of morality,” Danon said.

He further accused Guterres of ignoring Israeli evidence and leading what he called “a campaign of incitement and lies against Israel.”

The diplomatic crisis may be connected to broader international accusations against Israel regarding alleged abuse of Palestinian detainees. Earlier this month, The New York Times published a controversial opinion article by columnist Nicholas Kristof alleging a “pattern of widespread sexual violence” against Palestinians by Israeli security personnel and prison guards. Kristof wrote that he found no evidence Israeli leaders ordered rape, but claimed abuse had become part of Israel’s “standard operating procedures.”

Israel’s Foreign Ministry strongly rejected the article, calling it “one of the worst blood libels ever to appear in the modern press.”

The ministry argued that the publication formed part of a broader international campaign aimed at placing Israel on the UN blacklist. It also criticized the newspaper for not publishing findings from Israel’s Civil Commission on the October 7 massacre, which concluded that sexual and gender-based violence committed by Hamas terrorists was systematic, widespread and integral to the attack itself and the subsequent hostage captivity in Gaza.

Danon said Israel would continue fighting what he described as false accusations against the country.

“We will continue to stand for the truth, and expose the blood libels on every possible platform. The truth will prevail.”