The United Nations has for the first time listed Israel among armed groups accused of using sexual violence as a tactic of war, a decision that escalates international pressure on Jerusalem just days before a critical vote at the UN Human Rights Council. The blacklist, released late Thursday, includes Israel’s military alongside 52 other non-state and state actors, marking a dramatic shift in how the UN documents alleged war crimes.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately rejected the designation, calling it "a blood libel" designed to delegitimize Israel’s military operations in Gaza. "No nation fighting terrorism should be smeared with these false accusations," Netanyahu stated in a televised address Friday morning. The UN Office of the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, led by Pramila Patten, confirmed the report cited "reasonable grounds" to believe Israeli forces were involved in multiple incidents of sexual violence during ground operations in northern Gaza between October 2023 and January 2024.

The UN report, obtained by this newspaper, details three specific incidents where Israeli soldiers allegedly raped or sexually assaulted Palestinian detainees. In one case, a 27-year-old woman held in a detention facility in Rafah described being subjected to repeated assaults over a 72-hour period in December 2023. Medical records reviewed by the UN corroborate her account, including forensic evidence of trauma consistent with sexual violence. Israeli officials dismissed the findings as "cherry-picked" and based on testimonies from sources with alleged ties to Hamas.

Pramila Patten, the UN’s top sexual violence envoy, told reporters Friday that the decision to include Israel was based on "a preponderance of credible evidence" and followed a year-long investigation involving interviews with 147 witnesses, satellite imagery analysis, and digital forensics. "Sexual violence in conflict is not a byproduct of war; it is a weapon," Patten said. "When the world’s most powerful militaries are implicated, the stakes could not be higher."

The inclusion comes as Israel faces mounting scrutiny over its conduct in Gaza, where over 35,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, according to Gaza health officials. The UN’s move follows a January report from Amnesty International accusing both Israel and Hamas of committing gender-based violence. Hamas has denied the allegations outright, while Israel has called for Patten’s resignation, accusing her of bias. "This is not about justice; it’s about propaganda," said Israel’s UN ambassador, Gilad Erdan. "The UN has weaponized human rights."

The UN’s action is expected to intensify diplomatic isolation for Israel, which has already lost key allies in Europe and faces potential International Criminal Court arrest warrants. South Africa’s case at the ICJ, accusing Israel of genocide, resumes next week, adding legal pressure. Meanwhile, the U.S., Israel’s strongest ally, has not yet commented on the blacklist but is reviewing the report. Analysts warn the listing could embolden countries to impose sanctions or suspend military aid. "The UN’s moral authority is at stake here," said a senior Western diplomat who requested anonymity. "If they’re wrong, the credibility of the entire system collapses."

Human rights organizations cautiously welcomed the UN’s decision but urged further investigation. "This is a significant step, but it must be followed by accountability," said a spokesperson for Human Rights Watch. "Without prosecutions, the blacklist risks becoming just another symbolic gesture." For now, Israel’s military remains under investigation by the International Criminal Court, where prosecutor Karim Khan has already requested arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.