Israel

UN Warns Israel, Russia Over Sexual Violence Allegations

Published AUG 13 2025

Story

Above: U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres addresses a press briefing on July 14, 2025, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. Image credit: Liao Pan/Contributor/China News Service/VCG/Getty Images

The Facts

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres reportedly warned Israel and Russia on Tuesday that they could be listed next year among parties credibly suspected of committing patterns of rape or other forms of sexual violence in armed conflict.
ap
Al Jazeera
Breitbart
The U.N. documented accusations involving Israeli forces, including alleged incidents of genital violence, prolonged forced nudity and repeated strip searches of Palestinians in several prisons, a detention center and military base.
CNN
Business Standard
Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon dismissed the allegations as baseless and said the U.N. must focus on Hamas' actions and the release of all hostages instead.
NBC
Middle East Monitor
The Jerusalem Post
Guterres issued a similar warning to Russia, alleging its armed forces and affiliated groups have committed violations against Ukrainian prisoners of war in 50 official and 22 unofficial detention facilities in Ukraine and Russia. Moscow did not immediately comment on the allegations.
Al Jazeera
Reuters
Timesofisrael
Hamas was listed in Guterres' separate report as a group credibly suspected of committing patterns of rape or other forms of sexual violence, which senior Hamas official Basem Naim rejected as lies.
NBC
Business Standard

Sources Split

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RIGHT

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The Spin

Narrative A

The U.N. has consistently documented credible patterns of sexual violence by Israeli and Russian forces, and this move is critical to ensuring accountability and protecting civilians. Sexual violence must never be tolerated as a weapon of war.

OHCHR

Narrative B

These allegations are completely baseless and rooted in biased publications that ignore the real perpetrators. The U.N. is disproportionately focusing on Israel and Russia while downplaying atrocities by non-state actors such as Hamas — undermining its credibility and impartiality.

The Jerusalem Post