News - Middle East: The Geneva-based Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor says Israel must be added to the United Nation’s blacklist of entities based on “substantial evidence” that demonstrates the regime’s systematic use of sexual violence against Palestinian women and children.

The rights group said in a report that Israel has consistently obstructed all United Nations investigations into allegations of sexual violence since it launched its devastating campaign of war and destruction in Gaza on October 7, 2023.

“These obstructions, coupled with substantial evidence indicating systematic and widespread acts of rape and other forms of sexual violence by Israeli forces against Palestinians, including prisoners and detainees, constitute grave violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.”

“The grounds for the inclusion of Israel on the UN’s blacklist of entities suspected of perpetrating sexual violence in conflicts are compelling,” said the report.

For the past 15 months, the group said, Tel Aviv has consistently refused to cooperate with all United Nations bodies with an investigative mandate to examine allegations of rape and other forms of sexual violence.

It said that the regime’s refusal stems from its concerns “that a comprehensive investigation would expose Israel’s systematic use of mass rape against Palestinians, including women and children.”

Last year a UN report said there were “reasonable grounds” to believe sexual violence, including rape, was committed in multiple locations across the besieged Palestinian territory.

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