The race to succeed UN Secretary-General António Guterres officially begins on Thursday as the UN Security Council holds its first closed-door straw poll, the opening step in selecting the organization’s next leader.

Seven candidates from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, Senegal, and Uganda are competing to replace Guterres, whose second five-year term ends this year. With no clear frontrunner, diplomats expect several rounds of voting before the Security Council settles on a candidate to recommend to the UN General Assembly.

The next secretary-general will inherit a United Nations facing growing criticism over its effectiveness, mounting pressure to reform its bureaucracy, and major global crises ranging from the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine to escalating rivalry among the world’s major powers.

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Guterres alleged there was “serious concern” about sexual violence against Palestinians in prisons, detention facilities and military bases.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned Israel that it was “put on notice” that it may be listed in an upcoming UN report on sexual violence in conflict zones.

Guterres said there was “serious concern” about sexual violence against Palestinians in prisons, detention facilities and military bases.

He said Israel must take immediate steps, such as explicit orders prohibiting sexual violence, with enforcement and disciplinary measures in place; thorough investigations into all credible allegations; personal pledges from commanders; and allowing the UN unrestricted access for monitoring and providing humanitarian aid.

Guterres said that the UN will ensure these provisions have been implemented before the next reporting period in 2025 to determine whether Israel will be included in the report.

Israel’s ambassador to the UN responded to the secretary-general’s threat by saying, “The secretary-general chooses once again to believe baseless accusations, which are steeped in biased publications.”

He added, “The UN must focus on the shocking war crimes and sexual violence of Hamas and the release of all hostages. Israel will not shy away from protecting its citizens and will continue to act in accordance with international law.”

In March of last year, the UN affirmed that Hamas had sexually abused Israelis on Oct. 7 and is suspected of still abusing hostages in Gaza. The inquiry was led by Pramila Patten, the team’s special envoy.

The UN report was based on testimony and other evidence collected during a two-week investigation.

It said the UN found “credible circumstantial information, which may be indicative of some forms of sexual violence, including genital mutilation, sexualized torture, or cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.”

The report also said the UN team “found clear and convincing information that some hostages taken to Gaza have been subjected to various forms of conflict-related sexual violence and has reasonable grounds to believe that such violence may be ongoing.”

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