Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations said Thursday that his country would cut ties with the U.N. secretary general and his office, after the office’s decision to include Israel on an upcoming sexual violence blacklist over alleged sexual abuse of Palestinian detainees.
Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador, said that he had been officially informed by the secretary general’s office that Israel and its security services would be included in an annual report on conflict-related sexual violence. He called the decision “disconnected from the facts and reality.”
Hamas is also included on an associated list of countries and groups accused of using sexual violence as a weapon of war.
Mr. Danon denounced the decision, denied the accusations and accused the U.N. chief, António Guterres, of lying and of choosing not to fully investigate claims against Israel. “To put us and Hamas terrorists on the same list,” Mr. Danon said in a video. “That’s unacceptable.”