United Nations (United States) (AFP) – Israel is breaking all contact with United Nations chief Antonio Guterres, the country's ambassador announced Thursday, saying it was "outrageous" Israel is being blacklisted over alleged sexual violence in conflict zones.

"We are done with this secretary-general," Ambassador Danny Danon said in a video posted on X.

"The decision to blacklist Israel and accuse us of using sexual violence as a weapon of war is an outrageous decision," he said, referring to an upcoming report from Guterres' office.

"The secretary-general and his team continue to spread lies against Israel. To put us and Hamas terrorists on the same list, that's unacceptable."

Israel's foreign ministry called the country's inclusion on the UN sexual violence list "shameful and absurd."

The move "is further proof of the UN's true nature: a politicized and corrupt organization that has abandoned its founding principles and systematically targets Israel as its primary mission," ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein said on X.

The Israeli mission to the UN said in a statement it will have no contact with the secretary-general's office as long as Guterres remains in the role.

A spokesman for Guterres, whose term as UN chief ends on December 31, said the office was aware of Danon's remarks.

"For our part, the secretary-general's door remains open," the spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said.

The UN secretary-general's annual report on conflict-related sexual violence is customarily presented to relevant states ahead of publication.

Last August, the report warned Israel could be added to the list of parties suspected of, or responsible for, sexual violence in situations of armed conflict.

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The UN cited "credible information" regarding sexual violence allegedly committed by Israeli security forces against Palestinians in prisons and other detention centers, saying UN inspectors had been denied access to the facilities.

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