The Israeli government has announced plans to file a defamation lawsuit against the American newspaper The New York Times following the publication of an investigative report alleging sexual abuse and mistreatment of Palestinian detainees by Israeli forces.
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According to Israeli media, the legal action targets a detailed article written by a prominent American journalist that included testimonies from 14 Palestinian men and women. The report claimed that detainees experienced sexual violence, forced stripping, intimidation, and physical abuse during arrests and inside Israeli detention facilities.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that both the prime minister and the foreign minister instructed officials to begin legal proceedings against the newspaper.
Israeli authorities strongly rejected the allegations, describing the report as a “blood libel” and calling it one of the worst examples of anti-Israel journalism in modern media.
In a statement posted on X, Netanyahu said Israel would not remain silent and vowed to challenge what he described as false accusations “both in the court of public opinion and in courtrooms.”
Meanwhile, The New York Times defended its reporting, stating that the article was based on extensive investigative work. Newspaper spokesperson Charlie Stadtlander said the testimonies of alleged victims were verified wherever possible through witnesses, family members, lawyers, human rights organizations, and United Nations documents.
The report also cited findings from a United Nations investigative commission, which warned that sexual violence within the Israeli security system was increasingly becoming a method of abuse against Palestinians.
Separately, a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists stated that nearly one-third of Palestinian journalists detained by Israel reported incidents of sexual harassment or abuse while in custody.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza war following the October 7, 2023 attacks, the number of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons and detention centers has risen sharply. During this period, multiple human rights organizations, UN experts, and media investigations have raised concerns over alleged abuse, torture, and mistreatment of Palestinian detainees.
UN Special Rapporteur Reem Alsalem previously stated that Israel had not allowed independent international investigations into alleged sexual crimes committed against either Palestinians or Israelis.
