Israel severs all contact with Guterres's office after UN blacklists its forces for conflict sexual violence

Israel announced on 28 May that it is cutting all contact with the office of UN Secretary-General António Guterres after his annual report on conflict-related sexual violence added Israeli security forces to its blacklist of parties credibly suspected of abuses. The report cited alleged abuse of Palestinian detainees and named the Israel Defense Forces, the Israel Prison Service and the police, recording violations in prisons, at West Bank checkpoints, at the Gush Etzion police station and during military operations.

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said the mission would maintain "no further contact" with the Secretary-General's office for as long as Guterres remains in his position. The Foreign Ministry called the decision "shameful and absurd," objecting that it places Israel on the same list as Hamas, which was added last year, and said Jerusalem "will wait until a new UN Secretary-General is appointed." Guterres's ten-year term expires on 31 December 2026, and the race to succeed him is already underway with registered candidates undergoing General Assembly dialogues.

The rupture is the sharpest formal break between Israel and the UN secretariat since Israel declared Guterres persona non grata in October 2024.