Iran condemns Israel’s ‘irresponsible’ reaction to UN sexual violence blacklist

Iran’s High Council for Human Rights has condemned Israel’s “irresponsible reaction” to being placed on the United Nations blacklist of perpetrators of sexual violence in armed conflict, describing it as another example of Israel’s pattern of evading accountability.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the council described the widespread and organized crimes committed in the Gaza Strip as “clear evidence of the Zionist regime’s blatant disregard for the UN Charter, human values, and the international legal order.”

According to the statement, Israel has demonstrated over decades that it has no practical commitment to international law, fundamental human rights principles, or international humanitarian law.

Citing published statistics, the statement said that since October 7, 2023, the regime has killed over 72,000 Palestinians in Gaza and wounded more than 172,000 others, the majority of whom are women and children.

“The Zionist regime has shown repeatedly that it does not consider itself bound by ceasefire agreements or international law,” the statement said.

The consequences of this aggressive policy have been the martyrdom and injury of thousands of civilians, widespread displacement of Lebanese citizens, destruction of vital infrastructure, and massive human and economic losses, it stated.

The council further said that “in the nearly eight decades of the UN’s existence, few regimes can be found that have engaged as systematically and continuously as the Zionist regime in the four main international crimes: aggression, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.”

It noted that the continuation of this situation, enabled by political support from Western powers, particularly the United States, has not only challenged the credibility of international institutions but has also severely undermined public confidence in international justice mechanisms.

Sexual misconduct surges inside Israeli military with 2,500 complaints filed in 2025

Israeli army data has revealed a rise in sexual assaults and harassment complaints within its ranks during 2025.

Regarding Israel’s reaction to being listed by the UN, the council said, “Instead of responding to the reports and documentation presented, this regime has adopted a confrontational approach, politically attacking the UN Secretary-General and claiming to sever cooperation with him.”

The statement described this behavior as “a clear manifestation of the dangerous pattern of evading accountability by attacking oversight institutions and undermining international mechanisms.”

The council called for immediate, independent, transparent, and impartial investigations by competent international authorities into the ongoing Israeli assaults on Gaza and Lebanon, the targeting of civilians, the killing of women and children, the widespread destruction of infrastructure, forced displacement, and multiple reports of sexual violence and other inhumane acts.

It urged all governments, international organizations, human rights bodies, and advocates of human dignity not to remain silent and to take effective action to prevent the continuation of the cycle of violence and impunity by the Zionist regime.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has placed Israel’s armed forces on his blacklist of countries and entities accused of sexual violence in war zones, citing abuse of Palestinian inmates.

The 2026 edition of the Secretary-General’s Report on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, which covers the year 2025, said the UN had verified 13 instances of sexual violence against Palestinians by Israeli forces in 2025, in addition to 18 cases in 2023 and 2024.

The victims included 14 men, seven women, nine boys, and one girl, all from occupied Gaza or the West Bank.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir