Israel’s United Nations Ambassador Danny Danon has declared his mission will halt all communication with UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ office following Israel’s placement on a UN registry of nations and groups accused of committing sexual violence during armed conflicts.
Danon stated the Israeli delegation would maintain “no further contact” with the secretary-general’s office throughout Guterres’ remaining tenure.
“This is a moral disgrace that proves Guterres has lost all credibility,” Danon said, condemning the choice to put Israel “on the same blacklist as Hamas, ISIS [Islamic State], and the most barbaric terrorist organizations in the world.”
The report indicates the Israeli Prison Service will be featured on the UN’s 2026 registry, with other Israeli agencies continuing under observation for potential future inclusion.
Based on UN protocols, nations and militant groups designated by the secretary-general stay on the registry for a minimum of one year. Hamas was included on the list in August 2025.
The UN registry focuses on claims of sexual violence during armed conflicts and encompasses both government forces and non-governmental armed groups alleged to have committed these offenses.
In March 2024, Pramila Patten, the UN secretary-general’s special representative on sexual violence in conflict, documented “reasonable grounds” to conclude Hamas perpetrated rape and sexual violence during the October 7 massacre and while holding Israeli hostages captive in Gaza.
Israeli officials informed Ynet that mounting pressure developed on Guterres to add Israel following Hamas’s inclusion the previous year. The officials claimed the UN leader succumbed to political influence during his term’s concluding months.
Benny Gantz, the Israeli politician and former army general, characterized the report as “antisemitic and hypocritical,” stating the United Nations had descended into “moral blindness.”
Gilad Erdan, Israel’s former ambassador to the United Nations, similarly charged the organization with prejudice, describing it as “corrupt and distorted.”
