Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar have launched a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times over an article alleging the rape of Palestinian prisoners by Israeli soldiers.

A statement released by Israel’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday called the piece 'one of the most hideous and distorted lies ever published against the State of Israel in the modern press.'

It confirmed that the PM and Foreign Minister have 'instructed the initiation of a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times.'

It comes after an opinion piece titled 'The Silence That Meets the Rape of Palestinians', was published on Monday, where columnist Nicholas Kristof interviewed 14 alleged victims of sexual abuse.

In the testimonies, several sources alleged being raped countless times with batons by Israeli prison guards, while others, Kristof wrote, had their genitals beaten or yanked. One reportedly had to have them amputated because of severe injuries.

In another instance of alleged abuse, he quoted an anonymous Gazan journalist who said he had been raped by a dog as soldiers laughed and took photos.

Kristof argued that while Israeli leaders may not explicitly order rape, the country's security apparatus has fostered an environment where sexual violence is a key component of Palestinian mistreatment. 

He added that Netanyahu labelled reports of sexual violence as 'baseless,' similar to how Hamas dismissed claims of rape during the October 7 attacks.

In response to the column, Israel's ministry of foreign affairs took to social media on Tuesday to strongly condemn the article, claiming the NY Times 'chose to publish one of the worst blood libels ever to appear in the modern press.'

The post continued: '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 citizens were the victims of the most horrific sexual crimes committed by Hamas on Oct 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.'

'Blood libel' is a harmful antisemitic trope, originating in the Middle Ages, that falsely accuses Jews of murdering Christians for religious rituals. 

The term has evolved to encompass any modern, malicious conspiracy theory or false accusation targeting Jewish people and Israel

In the article, the columnist cited a speech where Netanyahu demanded global condemnation of Hamas's October 7 sexual violence, asking, 'Where the hell are you?'

'Think of it this way: The horrific abuse inflicted on Israeli women on Oct 7 now happens to Palestinians day after day,' Kristof wrote.

'It persists because of silence, indifference and the failure of American and Israeli officials alike to answer Netanyahu's query: Where the hell are you?'

Kristof went on to claim that the US is 'complicit' in the alleged sexual violence, as US tax dollars subsidize the Israeli security establishment.

Honest Reporting, a pro-Israel media watchdog, alleged inconsistencies in a key  complainant's account, claiming they previously expressed pro-Hamas views.

Several prominent figures have spoken out against the column, with journalist David Collier accusing the publication of 'acting like a Hamas mouthpiece to deliberately spread misinformation.'

Journalist and commentator Emily Schrader added that spreading 'absurd claims' that Israel uses dogs to rape Palestinians make a 'mockery' of victims of sexual violence.

These new allegations mirror accounts from Sde Teiman military prison, where in July 2024 CCTV footage appeared to show several Israeli guards sexually abusing a Palestinian detainee.

A prisoner later required treatment in hospital for internal injuries, including tears to his rectum and a punctured lung.

The soldiers were charged with aggravated abuse and causing serious bodily harm, but the charges were dropped in March 2026 - a decision praised by Netanyahu.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow.