UN Secretary General puts Israel ‘on notice’

NEW YORK – The UN has put Israel ‘on notice’ over allegations the IDF subjects captives to sexual violence. 

The intergovernmental organisation’s Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he has significant concerns about patterns of certain forms of sexual violence by their armed and security forces. 

The alleged crimes included incidents of genital violence, prolonged forced nudity of captives and abusive and degrading strip searches aimed at humiliation and interrogation. 

In his annual report to the Security Council on conflict-related sexual violence, Guterres put Israel ‘on notice’ that they could be listed next year among parties ‘credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of rape or other forms of sexual violence.’

The warning resulted from ‘significant concerns regarding patterns of certain forms of sexual violence that have been consistently documented by the United Nations,’ he wrote.

Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon described the concerns as baseless accusations.

‘The UN must focus on the shocking war crimes and sexual violence of Hamas and the release of all hostages. Israel will not shy away from protecting its citizens and will continue to act in accordance with international law,’ Danon said in a statement. 

Palestinian group Hamas – whose October 7, 2023, attack on Israel triggered the current war in Gaza – were also listed in Guterres’ report on Tuesday as a group ‘credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of rape or other forms of sexual violence’ in armed conflict.

‘We categorically reject all these allegations,’ senior Hamas official Basem Naim told Reuters, adding in reference to Israeli remarks: ‘These are certainly new attempts to use lies to divert attention from the ongoing brutal crimes committed by this fascist government and its army against our people in Gaza.’

In his warning to Israel, Guterres said he was ‘gravely concerned about credible information of violations by Israeli armed and security forces’ against Palestinians in several prisons, a detention center and a military base.  

‘‘Cases documented by the United Nations indicate patterns of sexual violence such as genital violence, prolonged forced nudity and repeated strip searches conducted in an abusive and degrading manner,’’ he wrote in the report.