UN lists Israel, Russia for sexual abuse, Israel cuts ties

The United Nations has added Israeli and Russian armed forces to its annual list of parties credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for sexual violence in conflict zones, a decision that has triggered a severe diplomatic rupture with Israel. The listing, part of a broader report documenting a sharp global increase in such cases, also includes the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which was added last year.

Israel announced it is severing all ties with the office of UN Secretary-General António Guterres over the decision. Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon condemned the move as a political act disconnected from reality, stating Israel had provided detailed responses to allegations and invited UN investigators, who declined to visit. A spokesperson for Guterres said the secretary-general’s door remains open to Israeli representatives.

The 2025 report, presented by the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, verified 9,788 cases of conflict-related sexual violence across 21 countries, more than double the 4,617 cases documented in 2024. Patten stressed the figure represents only documented incidents and is an indication of a...