Full Breakdown
UN Adds Israel and Russia to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Blacklist
5/29/2026, 11:12:33 AM
Inclusion of Israeli and Russian Forces on UN Blacklist
The United Nations’ 2025 annual report on conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) placed Israel’s armed and security forces and Russia’s armed and security forces on the annexed blacklist for the first time. The list, which now names 77 state and non-state actors across a dozen countries, is part of the Secretary-General’s CRSV report released in late May 2026.
Background: Prior Warnings and Reporting Mechanism
Secretary-General António Guterres warned Israel and Russia in August 2024 that repeated “credible information” could lead to their inclusion. The CRSV report, traditionally presented to states before public release, previously added Hamas after the Oct 7 2023 attacks. The annex enumerates parties suspected of or responsible for sexual violence in armed conflict.
Data & Statistics: Documented Cases and Patterns
- Russian forces: 310 verified cases of sexual violence against prisoners of war and civilian detainees in Ukraine.
- Israeli forces: documented patterns of rape, gang rape, forced nudity, genital mutilation, strip and cavity searches, and threats of rape against Palestinian detainees. The report recorded 14 men, 7 women, 9 boys and 1 girl as victims in 2025, with 13 incidents that year and 18 in 2023-2024.
- Ukrainian security forces: 31 cases, mostly before 2025.
- Other listed actors: Sudan, Haiti, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Syria and Mali.
The report notes a sharp rise in total cases in 2025 compared with 2024.
Key Entities Named in the Report
- Israeli military, security forces, prison services, and the Israel Prison Service (IPS).
- Russian armed forces and security services.
- Hamas, ISIS and other designated terrorist groups.
- Ukrainian security forces (limited cases).
Official Statements & Responses
- UN: Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the Secretary-General’s “door remains open” to all member states, including Israel.
- Israel: Ambassador Danny Danon declared, “We are done with this UN Secretary-General,” calling the listing “shameful and absurd” and likening Israel to Hamas and ISIS. Foreign- ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein described the decision as proof of a “politicised and corrupt” UN.
- Russia: Envoy Vassily Nebenzia dismissed the allegations as “unsubstantiated lies…again portray Russia as a villain,” and announced a forthcoming report on Ukrainian treatment of Russian POWs.
Criticism & Opposition
UN special-rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem, called the inclusion “long overdue,” citing systematic, large-scale sexual violence against Palestinians. Human-rights organisations echoed the view, noting that UN inspectors have been denied access to Israeli detention facilities, limiting independent verification.
On-the-Ground Reports
Palestinian detainees have reported forced nudity, genital shooting, object-based rape, and prolonged strip searches. A New York Times investigation published in May 2026 recorded testimonies from 14 Palestinians describing assaults by Israeli soldiers, guards and settlers. Similar allegations have emerged from Gaza-bound aid flotilla activists who were detained and allegedly abused.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The UN could not independently verify many claims against Hamas due to Israel’s refusal to grant investigators access. Israeli officials assert they invited UN representatives to inspect detention sites, a request the UN declined. Consequently, the factual basis for some entries remains contested.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We are done with this UN Secretary-General,” — Danny Danon, Israeli Ambassador to the UN
- “The decision to blacklist Israel and accuse us of using sexual violence as a weapon of war is an outrageous decision,” — Danny Danon
- “unsubstantiated lies…again portray Russia as a villain, like they do all the time.” — Vassily Nebenzia, Russian UN Envoy
- “added Israel to the blacklist of sexual violence in conflict zones” — Reem Alsalem, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and Girls
- “For our part, the secretary-general’s door remains open,” — Stéphane Dujarric, UN Spokesperson
What’s Next
Israel has frozen all contacts with the Secretary-General’s office and will not resume relations while Guterres remains in post. Russia plans to publish its own report on alleged Ukrainian mistreatment of Russian POWs. The full UN CRSV report is expected to be released imminently, and the blacklist will remain in effect for at least one year, subject to periodic review.
