UN adds Israeli Prison Service to sexual violence blacklist

The Israeli Prison Service is among other Israeli entities added to the UN sexual violence blacklist, The Jerusalem Post (JP) reported on Wednesday.

This development follows a July 2025 report by the UN Secretary-General’s Guterres representative on sexual violence in conflict, Pramila Patten, Ynet reported.

The report had stated that:

Since November 2023, Israeli armed and security forces have arrested and detained thousands of Palestinian men, women and children, with a dramatic deterioration in conditions of detention. The United Nations verified 12 incidents of conflict-related sexual violence perpetrated by Israeli armed and security forces, including the Israel Defense Forces, the Israel Prison Service including the “Nachshon” Unit and Keter special forces, the Israel Security Agency (also known as Shin Bet) and the Police Counter-Terrorism Unit (Yamam), in Naqab/Ketziot and Ofer prisons and Etzion detention centre against seven Palestinian men, including one rape; one attempted rape; three incidents of squeezing or pulling detainees’ genitals; and seven incidents of kicking, or beatings to, genitals.

The JP reported that following Hamas’ inclusion in the blacklist, “heavy pressure was exerted on the UN Secretary-General to include Israel on the list as well.”

UN verdict: rife sexual violence

The UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine — Francesca Albanese — has also documented these crimes.

Earlier this year, she released a report called “Torture and genocide,” which showed that various forms of torture have become tools of genocide by Israel against Palestinians. She also warned that the practice extends far beyond prison walls.

She reported that sexual violence against children, women, and men is “rife,” detailing that:

Israeli personnel have committed rape, including gang rape, often involving objects such as iron bars, batons and metal detectors. Detainees are subjected to beatings and electric shocks on their genitals or anus, forcibly and publicly stripped naked, and forcibly and invasively strip-searched in humiliating positions.

Pattern of discrediting international law

In response to this step being taken by the UN, Israel is reportedly cutting ties with UN chief Guterres.

The JP reported that Israel is “freezing” relations with the UN Secretary-General’s Office and has cancelled Patten’s planned visit to Israel.

This is a pattern used by the US and its proxy Israel.

The United States on Wednesday reimposed sanctions on Albanese. The Treasury Department blacklisted her globally, blocking her from using credit cards or banking.

The US had removed the sanctions a week earlier after a federal judge blocked them, citing free-speech violations. But an appeals court issued a stay on that ruling Friday.

US-backed Israeli attempts to discredit UN investigators and the International Criminal Court are part of its thuggery.

Reuters also reported that Trump is estimated to have issued sanctions against nine ICC judges, as well as prosecutors for the court.

The judges and prosecutors were reportedly involved in probes into abuses by US and Israeli forces, it said.

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