image sourced from original article at Israel's Foreign Ministry has sharply condemned a column in The New York Times that alleges widespread sexual abuse of Palestinians by Israeli security forces, prison guards, settlers, and interrogators. The ministry described the article as 'one of the worst blood libels' in modern media and accused the author, Nicholas Kristof, of spreading baseless lies and reversing the roles of victim and perpetrator.
In the column, Kristof cited interviews with fourteen Palestinians who claimed they were subjected to severe sexual violence, including abuse involving physical assault and, in one account, the use of a dog. He argued that the allegations reflect a broader pattern of mistreatment and wrote that American tax dollars support Israel's security establishment. Kristof also drew parallels between the reported abuses and the sexual violence committed during the October 7 attack by Hamas.
Israeli officials rejected the claims as malicious propaganda and part of a coordinated anti-Israel campaign aimed at influencing international opinion, including efforts related to the United Nations. Israel's ambassador to the United States and media watchdog groups criticized the reporting, questioning the credibility of sources and accusing the newspaper of journalistic misconduct. Kristof defended his work and suggested that independent monitoring of Palestinian detainees could help verify or refute the allegations.
