Israel will sue the New York Times for anti-Semitic accusations against Israeli soldiers.

The government of Israel confirmed that it will take legal action against The New York Times following the publication of an opinion column by journalist Nicholas Kristof that included serious allegations of sexual abuse allegedly committed by Israeli soldiers against detained Palestinians.

The decision was officially announced by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, which described the article as “one of the most horrific and distorted lies ever published against the State of Israel.” According to the statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar ordered the preparation of a defamation lawsuit against the American media outlet.

Netanyahu publicly reacted on his social media and accused the newspaper of defaming the Israel Defense Forces while equating Israeli military personnel with Hamas terrorists.

“They defamed the soldiers of Israel and perpetuated a slander of rape, trying to create a false symmetry between the genocidal terrorists of Hamas and the brave soldiers of Israel,” wrote the Israeli leader.

Israel accuses The New York Times of amplifying anti-Israel propaganda

From the Israeli government's environment, they argue that such publications fuel international disinformation campaigns and ultimately legitimize narratives pushed by organizations linked to Islamist terrorism.

The questioned article was written by Nicholas Kristof and published by The New York Times as an opinion column. It compiles testimonies from Palestinians who reported alleged sexual abuses in Israeli prisons, including extremely serious and difficult-to-verify accusations.

The Israeli government believes that the text crossed the line between political opinion and a defamatory accusation without conclusive evidence. So far, it has not been confirmed in which country the lawsuit will be filed or what amounts will be claimed.

Jerusalem's response is also framed in a context of growing tension between Israel and parts of the international press, which Netanyahu has accused for months of reproducing false information driven by Hamas during the war in Gaza.

The New York Times backed the controversial publication

Far from retracting, The New York Times issued a statement reaffirming its support for the article and defending Nicholas Kristof's work.

The outlet stated that the article is based on “corroborated” testimonies and maintained that the journalist interviewed 14 people whose accounts were verified with family members, lawyers, and other witnesses.

However, from Israel's perspective, the newspaper deliberately ignored the context of the war that began after the terrorist massacre of October 7 perpetrated by Hamas, where hundreds of Israeli civilians were murdered, kidnapped, and raped.

The Israeli government also argues that much of the international coverage omitted or downplayed the crimes committed by Hamas, while amplifying accusations against Israeli forces without the same standard of verification.

Netanyahu hardens his stance against international media

Benjamin Netanyahu has been increasing his criticism of Western media that, he claims, contribute to demonizing the Jewish state and legitimizing campaigns of anti-Semitic hatred under the guise of political activism.