UN Blacklists Israel for Sexual Violence; Demands Equal Accountability

The United Nations has added Israel to its blacklist for sexual violence in conflict. The same list includes Russia, which faces heavy international sanctions. Experts say Israel must now face similar consequences. The move follows years of documented abuse. Janine di Giovanni, a war correspondent and director of The Reckoning Project, recalls a Palestinian journalist named Yousef. He was imprisoned in the Negev desert at Ansar III, an Israeli prison. During the first intifada in the late 1980s, Yousef was in his early 20s. He endured beatings, torture, and sleep deprivation. “The soldiers kept asking me if I wanted to be a woman,” he told di Giovanni. “That is the worst thing – to threaten to destroy your manhood.” Post-traumatic stress disorder was not widely understood then. But di Giovanni knew her friend was deeply traumatized. Even after release, he doubted he would ever feel safe again. The UN’s blacklist demands accountability. For Russia, that means sanctions. For Israel, the same standard must apply.