Israel suspends relations with UN Secretary-General over sexual violence report

Israel has announced the suspension of its relations with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres until the end of his term on December 31, 2026. This decision follows reports that the UN intends to include Israel in an unpublished annex of a report concerning sexual violence during armed conflicts. Israeli officials, including Ambassador Danny Danon and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein, condemned the move as shameful and politicized. The Israeli government rejects accusations of using sexual violence as a weapon of war and argues that the UN is equating Israeli forces with Hamas. The UN had previously cited credible information regarding alleged sexual abuse by Israeli security forces against Palestinian detainees. While the formal report has not yet been released, the Israeli mission stated the suspension is a direct response to the inclusion of Israeli entities in the pending document. The UN has not yet confirmed the final contents of the report, which is traditionally shared with concerned parties prior to publication.