United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a stark warning to Israel and Russia, citing “credible information” of conflict-related sexual violence by their armed and security forces.
In his annual report to the UN Security Council, seen by Reuters, Guterres said the alleged violations included genital violence, prolonged forced nudity, and abusive strip searches aimed at humiliation and coercion.
He placed both countries “on notice” that they could be listed next year among parties “credibly suspected” of patterns of rape or other forms of sexual violence.
The report also names Palestinian militant group Hamas as “credibly suspected” of such crimes, particularly in connection with its October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.
Hamas rejected the claims, with senior official Basem Naim dismissing them as “lies” intended to deflect attention from alleged Israeli abuses in Gaza.
Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon called the UN’s concerns “baseless accusations,” insisting that Israel operates within international law and urging focus on “the shocking war crimes and sexual violence of Hamas” as well as the release of hostages.
Guterres said UN investigations found patterns of sexual violence by Israeli forces against Palestinians in prisons, a detention center, and a military base, noting limited cooperation from Israeli authorities on accountability measures despite witness testimony and digital evidence.
The Secretary-General also expressed grave concern over alleged violations by Russian forces and affiliated groups against Ukrainian prisoners of war in at least 72 detention facilities across Ukraine and Russia.
Documented abuses reportedly included electrocution, genital beatings, burns, and forced nudity to elicit confessions. Russia’s UN mission has not commented, and Guterres noted Moscow has not engaged with his special envoy on the matter.
The allegations come amid ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine, adding new dimensions to calls for international accountability in armed conflicts.
Written By Rodney Mbua
