Israel is reportedly obstructing a United Nations investigation into allegations of sexual violence perpetrated by Israeli authorities against Palestinian prisoners. The Hebrew newspaper Haaretz revealed that Israeli officials fear the findings could lead to Israel, rather than Hamas, being blacklisted by the UN for sexual crimes in conflict zones.

The investigation, spearheaded by Pramila Patten, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Sexual Violence in Conflict, aims to examine sexual violence reported by Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons. Patten has called for access to Israeli detention centres to thoroughly investigate these claims, a request Israel has declined.

Reports indicate that Israeli officials oppose the investigation because it encompasses allegations of sexual violence committed by Israeli forces, alongside claims regarding the October 7 attacks attributed to Hamas. However, earlier findings by the Associated Press revealed that accusations of sexual violence by Hamas during the attack were fabricated, as admitted by Israeli officials.

Israel’s refusal to cooperate includes rejecting calls to sign a framework agreement with the UN that would allow access to detention facilities and require measures to prevent and address sexual violence in conflict. Women’s lobby groups in Israel expressed concerns that acknowledging these allegations could result in Israel being added to the UN’s blacklist of entities responsible for sexual crimes in conflict.

The ongoing obstruction highlights growing concerns about accountability and transparency in addressing the treatment of Palestinian detainees, as international scrutiny intensifies over Israel’s policies in occupied territories.