Israeli sexual violence against Palestinians: What we know about the UN’s findings

As we’ve been reporting, Israel has lashed out at the United Nations after being included on a UN list for conflict-related sexual violence.

Instead of addressing the findings, Israel accused the UN and those behind the report of “anti-Semitism”.

So what does the report actually say?

• The UN said that in 2025, “the United Nations verified multiple incidents of conflict-related sexual violence, including as a form of torture, inflicted against 14 men, seven women, nine boys and one girl from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.”
• The report said: “Violations consisted of rape, including with objects, gang rape, attempted rape, physical violence to the genitals, instances of targeted shooting of the genitals, touching of breasts and genitals, strip and cavity searches conducted without apparent security justification, ⁠forced nudity and threats of rape”.
• “Rape and gang rape, in some cases repeated, were perpetrated against nine victims, the majority from Gaza,” the report noted.
• The perpetrators were identified as members of Israeli armed and security forces, with abuses carried out during detention, interrogation and across multiple facilities.
• The report makes clear that Palestinian civilians – including journalists and human rights defenders – were among those subjected to these assaults. Some victims were filmed or photographed, including in one case of rape.
• Women faced threats of rape, forced nudity, unwanted touching and degrading strip searches.
• Men and boys were subjected to rape, attempted rape and direct violence targeting their genitals.
• At least five male victims suffered severe rectal bleeding or swelling lasting days or even weeks.