UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned the governments of Israel and Russia this week about the possibility of including two countries in military and security lists that have committed sexual violence related to armed conflicts.
According to Reuters agency, Guterres said in the warning sent to Russia that he is “seriously concerned about reliable information on Russian and armed security violations and affiliated armed groups”, especially against Ukrainian prisoners in 50 official detention centers and 22 non -official in Ukraine and Russia.
The letter sent by the UN Secretary-General Israel was shared by the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, in an X post.
In the document, Guterres expressed concern about “reliable information about violations perpetrated by Israeli Armed Forces against Palestinians in various arrests, a detention center and a military base.”
“Due to the constant denial of access to the United Nations monitors, it has been challenging to make a definitive determination on standards, trends and systemicity of sexual violence in these situations,” wrote the UN Secretary-General.
“However, I am notifying the Israeli Armed and Security forces on possible inclusion in the next cycle of reports, due to significant concerns with standards of certain forms of sexual violence that have been consistently documented by the United Nations,” he added.
Danon repudiated the warning of Guterres. “The secretary general opted, once again, to adopt unfounded accusations based on biased publications,” said the ambassador to X.
“The UN must focus on the shocking crimes of war and the immediate release of all kidnapped [pelo grupo terrorista]. Israel will not shy away from protecting its citizens and will continue to act in accordance with international law, ”wrote Danon.
Hamas was listed in the Guterres report as a group “credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for rape standards or other forms of sexual violence” in armed conflicts.
In an interview with Reuters, Basem Naim, an employee of the terrorist group summit, rejected the UN allegations. “These are certainly new attempts to use lies to divert the attention of brutal crimes ongoing by this fascist government and their army against our people in Gaza,” he said in reference to Israel.
Russia’s mission in the United Nations has not yet commented on the warning sent by Guterres.
