Israel, Russia added to UN blacklist on sexual violence in conflicts

NEW YORK: The United Nations has officially added the armed forces of Israel and Russia to its annual ‘list of shame’ documenting conflict-related sexual violence.

The newly released report by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres marks the first time both nations have been included on the blacklist, triggering severe diplomatic backlash from Jerusalem and Moscow.

The comprehensive UN report details systematic patterns of abuse. Investigators documented credible evidence of sexual violence, forced nudity, and degrading treatment committed by Israeli security forces against Palestinian detainees.

Concurrently, the report blacklisted Russian military forces and state affiliates for executing systematic sexual abuse and torture against Ukrainian prisoners of war to extract confessions.

Both nations vehemently rejected the findings, accusing the United Nations of severe political bias. Israeli officials labeled the report an act of institutional hostility, while Russian diplomats dismissed the allegations as unverified fabrications aimed at harming Moscow's international standing.