On May 28, 2026, Israel announced the severance of its relationship with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres after being added to a blacklist of groups involved in conflict-related sexual violence. The Israeli Prison Service is included in the 2026 list, with other Israeli authorities under consideration for future inclusion, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
Hamas was previously added to the blacklist in August 2025, following the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. The Israeli Foreign Ministry criticized the U.N., claiming that the designation reflects a politicized agenda that targets Israel. The ministry accused Guterres of attempting to create a false equivalence between Israel and Hamas's actions and stated that Israel denies all allegations of sexual violence.
In response to the blacklist, Israel declared it would cut all ties with Guterres's office until a new Secretary-General is appointed. The Israeli Ambassador to the U.N., Danny Danon, has previously engaged with the Secretary-General’s office, providing evidence in response to the allegations and inviting U.N. personnel to investigate the claims on-site. The U.N. Secretary-General's office has been contacted for further comment.
