In response to the Israeli Foreign Minister's allegations, Antonio Guterres' spokesman assured that he did not try to suppress a report on allegations of sexual violence on October 7.
The UN secretary-general did “in no way” to suppress a report about allegations of sexual violence during the October 7 Hamas attacks, his spokesman assured.
The work of UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, whose report was released on Monday, “was thorough and diligent. In no case has the Secretary General taken any action or concealed this report,” said Stéphane Dujarric. in response to the Israeli Foreign Minister's accusations.
Ambassador recalled
Israel also recalled its ambassador to the United Nations on Monday, the latest episode of high tensions in recent months, highlighted by the threat of a collapse of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees amid the unrest.
In a message posted on .
And on Monday, her special representative on sexual violence in conflict, Pramila Patten, concluded after a visit to Israel that there were “good reasons to believe” that October 7 victims were raped, as were certain those held in Gaza hostages. Even if she states that she cannot estimate the number of these violent acts.
“It took five months for the United Nations to finally acknowledge the sexual crimes,” commented Gilad Erdan, pointing to the UN’s “shame laid bare for all to see.”
In a speech to the General Assembly, the ambassador, who regularly calls for the resignation of Antonio Guterres, went even further, accusing the United Nations of “being itself a terrorist organization in Gaza.”