The New York Times is targeted by a lawsuit from Israel following an investigation into sexual abuse of Palestinian detainees.

The Israeli government announced Thursday its intention to sue The New York Times for defamation after the publication of an investigation alleging sexual abuse of Palestinian detainees in Israeli detention centers. Benjamin Netanyahu's office asserts that the article contains "false" and "defamatory" accusations against the Jewish state and its security forces.

The article in question, authored by journalist Nicholas Kristof, relies on the testimonies of fourteen former Palestinian detainees who describe sexual violence, humiliation, and acts of torture allegedly committed in several Israeli detention centers since the beginning of the Gaza war. Some testimonies also mention the use of dogs in alleged abuse.

Israel denounces a "smear campaign"

The Israeli Foreign Ministry accuses the American newspaper of conducting a "carefully orchestrated anti-Israel campaign." The government asserts that the accusations reported by the newspaper are based on no solid evidence and aim to equate Israeli forces with Hamas in the context of the Gaza conflict.

For its part, The New York Times defends its investigation and asserts that it conducted numerous fact-checks before publication. The newspaper maintains that the testimonies gathered were corroborated by relatives, lawyers, and other indirect witnesses.

These accusations have already been raised by NGOs and the UN.

Allegations of sexual violence against Palestinian detainees have been mentioned in several reports by international NGOs and UN-affiliated bodies since the beginning of the war. Organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights have cited alleged cases of torture, sexual humiliation, and ill-treatment in some Israeli detention centers.

Israel, however, rejects these accusations and maintains that it respects international law in its handling of conflict-related detainees. Nevertheless, some cases have already been the subject of internal investigations, particularly following allegations of abuse at the Sde Teiman military prison.

A new media battle surrounding the war in Gaza

The legal offensive comes amid rising tensions between the Israeli government and several major international media outlets, which Tel Aviv accuses of disseminating narratives deemed hostile to Israel since the start of the war against Hamas. The conflict over media coverage of Gaza has become a major political issue, fueling ever-increasing international polarization around the war.