The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has accused the New York Times of printing “one of the worst blood libels” of the modern era over a piece alleging the widespread sexual abuse of Palestinian detainees, including the training of dogs to rape prisoners.
The article, published on Monday in the paper’s opinion section by Nicholas Kristof, argues that sexual violence against Palestinians by Israeli security forces and settlers is widespread, under-reported, and is carried out with impunity.
Among the serious allegations in the piece, Kristoff writes that Palestinian detainees reported guards inserting batons or other objects into their rectums during beatings and interrogations, perpetrating gang rapes and blackmail of a female detainee, and subjecting children to sexual threats and abuse.
The piece also describes allegations from a Gazan journalist that, while restrained and blindfolded, guards encouraged a dog to sexually assault him while others photographed the incident.
Kristof said he spoke with 14 Palestinians alleging sexual assault for the article, alongside corroboration from witnesses, family members, social workers and lawyers where possible.
Israel, the article noted, has repeatedly denied systematic abuse and rejects accusations of institutionalised sexual violence, including by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who denounced it as “baseless”.
Israel’s foreign ministry has since strongly denied the allegations outlined in the piece, calling it “one of the worst blood libels ever to appear in the modern press”.
“In an unfathomable inversion of reality, and through an endless stream of baseless lies, propagandist Nicholas Kristof turns the victim into the accused,” it said.
“Israel – whose citizens were the victims of the most horrific sexual crimes committed by Hamas on October 7, and whose hostages were later subjected to further sexual abuse – is portrayed as the guilty party.
“This publication is no coincidence. It is part of a false and well-orchestrated anti-Israel campaign aimed at placing Israel on the UN Secretary-General’s blacklist. Israel will fight these lies with the truth – and the truth will prevail.”
Today, the @nytimes chose to publish one of the worst blood libels ever to appear in the modern press.
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) May 11, 2026
In an unfathomable inversion of reality, and through an endless stream of baseless lies, propagandist Nicholas Kristof turns the victim into the accused.
Israel - whose…
Meanwhile, Alex Gandler, spokesperson for the Israeli embassy in London, called The New York Times report “absolute journalistic malpractice”.
He said it is “presented with the weight of journalism, but it is explicitly labelled as opinion. That distinction matters. Opinion is not investigation, and this article does not meet the standard of one”.
“There is a striking absence of verifiable evidence. No forensic findings, no independently corroborated data, only testimonies presented without scrutiny,” he went on.
“Framing such material as credible reporting risks misleading audiences. It also creates a false and deeply troubling equivalence with the documented atrocities of October 7, where extensive forensic evidence and multiple independent reports have established widespread sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas.
“That comparison is not just inaccurate, it is reckless. It dilutes proven crimes, undermines standards of evidence, and erodes trust in journalism itself.”
The JC has approached the New York Times for comment.
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