António Guterres, the UN secretary-general, has formally put Israel on notice over allegations that its security forces have committed sexual violence against Palestinian detainees. In a letter dated Monday to Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, Guterres expressed “grave concern” at what he called “credible information” implicating Israeli armed and security personnel in abuses across multiple prisons, a detention centre, and a military base.

Danon made the letter public on social media ahead of the UN’s forthcoming annual report on conflict-related sexual violence.

Meanwhile, the conflict shows signs of escalation. Israel’s army chief approved the “main framework” for a full-scale ground operation in Gaza this week, signalling that a war already marked by grinding attrition may yet intensify.