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Reuters
22 minutes ago
- Reuters
UN chief puts Israel, Russia 'on notice' over conflict-related sexual violence accusations
UNITED NATIONS, Aug 12 (Reuters) - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Israel and Russia on Tuesday that he has significant concerns about patterns of certain forms of sexual violence by their armed and security forces, according to a report seen by Reuters. The alleged crimes included incidents of genital violence, prolonged forced nudity of captives, and abusive and degrading strip searches aimed at humiliation and interrogation. In his annual report to the Security Council on conflict-related sexual violence, Guterres put Israel and Russia "on notice" that they could be listed next year among parties "credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of rape or other forms of sexual violence." The warning resulted from "significant concerns regarding patterns of certain forms of sexual violence that have been consistently documented by the United Nations," he wrote. Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon described the concerns as baseless accusations. "The U.N. must focus on the shocking war crimes and sexual violence of Hamas and the release of all hostages. Israel will not shy away from protecting its citizens and will continue to act in accordance with international law," Danon said in a statement. Palestinian militants Hamas - whose Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel triggered the current war in Gaza - were listed in Guterres' report on Tuesday as a group "credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of rape or other forms of sexual violence" in armed conflict. 'We categorically reject all these allegations," senior Hamas official Basem Naim told Reuters, adding in reference to Israeli remarks: 'These are certainly new attempts to use lies to divert attention from the ongoing brutal crimes committed by this fascist government and its army against our people in Gaza." In his warning to Israel, Guterres said he was "gravely concerned about credible information of violations by Israeli armed and security forces" against Palestinians in several prisons, a detention center and a military base. "Cases documented by the United Nations indicate patterns of sexual violence such as genital violence, prolonged forced nudity and repeated strip searches conducted in an abusive and degrading manner," he wrote in the report. While Israeli authorities had engaged with his special envoy on sexual violence in conflict over the past year, Guterres said "limited information has been provided on accountability measures undertaken in relation to alleged incidents of sexual violence, despite witness testimony and digital evidence of Israeli soldiers committing such violations." Russia's mission to the U.N. in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report. Guterres said Russian authorities have not engaged with his special envoy. Guterres wrote that he was "gravely concerned about credible information of violations by Russian armed and security forces and affiliated armed groups" primarily against Ukrainian prisoners of war, in 50 official and 22 unofficial detention facilities in Ukraine and Russia. "These cases comprised a significant number of documented incidents of genital violence, including electrocution, beatings and burns to the genitals, and forced stripping and prolonged nudity, used to humiliate and elicit confessions or information," he said. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine in February 2022.
The Independent
23 minutes ago
- The Independent
White House is already downplaying expectation for Trump-Putin meeting painting it as only a step toward peace
More than 200 days after Donald Trump's self-imposed deadline to end Russia's war against Ukraine on the first day of his second term, the White House is quietly acknowledging that his upcoming summit with Russian president Vladimir Putin isn't likely to result in a ceasefire. The president and his Russian counterpart are set to meet Friday for a hastily arranged sit-down in Alaska, giving Putin the honor of being welcomed onto American territory by an American president and bringing an end to the international isolation he has faced since launching the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. On Monday, Trump said he may well know whether Putin is truly interested in reaching an agreement to end the war he started within just two minutes of sitting down with the Russian leader. Speaking to reporters during a press conference in the White House briefing room, he said: 'I may say, 'lots of luck, keep fighting,' or I may say we can make a deal.' That deal, according to Trump, could involve swapping parcels of land between Russian and Ukrainian control in exchange for peace. It's an idea that has also been broached by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte as well. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected such an option on multiple occasions. A White House official who spoke to Politico ahead of the summit said Putin, who met with Trump envoy Steve Witkoff last week, asked for the meeting with the president and suggested a solution to the conflict. However, White House officials are now saying that the meeting might not mean a concrete deal for peace. 'It may not be a viable plan, but there was something on paper, which shows progress,' the official said. The official added that Trump saw Putin's willingness to meet as 'progress' and is willing to 'hear him out,' while a second White House official said Trump would use the meeting to 'gauge how serious Putin is about peace.' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt similarly appeared to lower expectations when she was asked about Trump's outlook on the sit-down, calling it 'a listening exercise for the President' and acknowledging that Zelensky's absence would make it difficult if not impossible for any real solution to the conflict to emerge from the bilateral talks. 'Look, only one party that's involved in this war is going to be present, and so this is for the President to go and to get ... a more firm and better understanding of of how we can hopefully bring this war to an end,' she said. 'The President inherited this conflict, and he is determined to end it. And it's a very complex and complicated situation.' Leavitt also added that Trump ' hopes in the future there can be a trilateral meeting' between him, Putin and Zelensky to 'finally bring this conflict to an end' while claiming that Trump has 'really used every lever' and 'taken every measure to to achieve peace through a diplomatic solution.' 'I think the President of the United States getting in the room with the President of Russia, sitting face to face, rather than speaking over the telephone, will give this president the best indication of how to end this war and where this is headed,' she said.
Reuters
24 minutes ago
- Reuters
White House says Trump-Putin meeting is a 'listening exercise'
WASHINGTON, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Friday's Alaska summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin "is a listening exercise for the president," the White House said on Tuesday, tempering expectations for a quick Russia-Ukraine ceasefire deal. "Only one party that's involved in this war is going to be present, and so this is for the president to go and to get, again, a more firm and better understanding of how we can hopefully bring this war to an end," said White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt. "This is a listening exercise for the president." Trump will meet one-on-one with Putin during the talks, which will take place in Anchorage, Alaska, the White House said. He may, in the future, also visit Russia. "Perhaps there are plans in the future to travel to Russia," said Leavitt. Key issues remain ahead of the talks. Trump has said the two sides will need to cede land to end the bloody 3-1/2-year-old conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said his country's constitution prohibits such a deal and that no arrangements can be made without Ukraine's participation in talks. The White House declined to comment on conversations taking place prior to the Putin meeting between Trump and Zelenskiy. Trump said on Monday that Zelenskiy may be invited to a future meeting with Putin. "The president has deep respect for all parties that are involved in this conflict and are trying to bring this conflict to an end," said Leavitt.
