ALBAWABA - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is taking legal action against The New York Times over a report that alleged systematic sexual mistreatment of Palestinian detainees.
Israeli officials stated in a joint statement with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar that they would file a defamation suit against the journal, which they accused of publishing what they called inaccurate and very harmful statements about the country.
The study, by journalist Nicholas Kristof, was based on testimony collected in the occupied West Bank, and featured testimonials from people who claimed to have been victims of sexual violence by Israeli settlers, security officials and jail staff. It detailed the charges as part of a broader pattern against men, women and children since the war escalated in October 2023.
The New York Times has denied the allegations, saying the article was the result of “rigorous” reporting. A representative for the website said the threat of legal action was “another example of the ongoing effort to undermine and discredit independent journalism.”
The report pointed to issues in prior international findings, including a United Nations evaluation of alleged gender-based violence, but did not state that Israeli leadership had authorized such acts explicitly.
Israeli authorities replied with sharp criticism, doubting the authenticity of the sources named and suggesting that the timing of the publishing was meant to discredit Israel’s own investigations into alleged crimes tied to Hamas.
The controversy underscores a rising tension between the Israeli government and international media over the storylines and coverage of the current war.
