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Israeli soldiers embrace upon returning from Gaza amid ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in southern Israel, February 29, 2024. — Reuters
– This is a political decision, says Israeli envoy, disconnected from facts and reality.
– “Israel has decided to sever all ties with the UN Secretary-General’s Office.”
– Guterres expresses grave concern over violations by Israeli forces.
GENEVA: Israel’s UN ambassador announced his country has been placed on a UN blacklist for sexual violence in conflict zones, alongside Hamas.
“This is a political move, completely detached from facts and reality,” said Danny Danon on X, referencing a report scheduled for publication soon. He added he learned about it during a phone call with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, according to a statement from the Israeli UN mission.
Guterres’ annual report to the Security Council on conflict-related sexual violence, released last August, warned that Israel and Russia could be added to a list of parties “credibly suspected” of committing patterns of sexual violence, including rape and other abuses, during the current year.
The UN in Geneva and Hamas have not immediately responded to Reuters’ inquiries.
Danon also criticized the comparison of Israel to Hamas, calling it a “new low,” and said Israel had responded in detail to each allegation, inviting UN officials for visits that were declined.
Late Thursday, Israel’s foreign ministry said it would cut all contact with Guterres, citing his alleged dishonesty and unprofessionalism. “Given Antonio Guterres’s actions, Israel will sever all ties with his office and wait for a new UN Secretary-General,” the ministry posted on X.
In response to Danon’s comments, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated, “From the Secretary-General’s perspective, his door remains open to Israeli representatives, as well as the other 192 member states and two observer states.”
Guterres’ warning in August stemmed from documented concerns over certain patterns of sexual violence, which he called “significant.” At the time, Danon dismissed these concerns as unfounded.
Guterres noted concerns about credible reports of violations by Israeli armed and security forces against Palestinians in various detention facilities and bases. Hamas, which launched a retaliatory attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, sparking the Gaza conflict, was listed in the report as a group “credibly suspected” of sexual violence during wartime. Hamas has firmly denied these allegations.
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