UN: Russia and Israel accused of sexual torture in wartime

The UN warned Russia and Israel on Thursday, against a possible inscription on the list of countries and armed organizations that have been guilty of sexual violence in wartime.

In an annual report which draws up a list of 63 countries or entities using rapes or any other form of sexual violence in armed conflicts, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, announces to put these two countries under surveillance. “Given the major concerns that certain forms of sexual violence regularly documented by the UN arouse”, Russia and Israel “could be registered on the list which will appear in the appendix of the next report,” he wrote.

Regarding Russia, the UN chief evokes “credible information” on abuses “against Ukrainian prisoners of war, in 50 officials of official detention and 22 unofficial places of detention in Ukraine and the Russian Federation”.

“Among these violations are in particular many documented cases of genital violence, including electrocities, blows and burns on the genitals as well as the use of forced and prolonged nudity, the aim being to humiliate the victims and to obtain confessions or information,” he continues.

In Israel and in the Palestinian territories, he says he is “seriously concerned about credible information reporting violations committed by the armed forces and the Israeli security forces against Palestinians in several prisons, a detention center and a military base”.

The cases documented by the UN again evoke “genital violence” and “the use of forced and prolonged nudity”, as well as “repeated naked excavations with an abusive and degrading character”.

The UN would do better to “focus on shocking war crimes and the sexual violence of Hamas as well as on the liberation of all hostages,” reacted the ambassador of Israel to the UN, Danny Danon. “Israel will not hide to protect its citizens and continue to act in accordance with international law,” he added.

In its report, the UN deplores “an astonishing increase of 25%” of the use of sexual violence in the world “as a tactic of war, torture, terrorism and political repression”. Women continue to constitute the vast majority of the victims listed (92%).

The Hamas movement is among the armed organizations accused of having recourse, especially during the massacres of October 7, which had triggered the conflict with Israel.