Israel's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday strongly criticized the New York Times for publishing an op-ed at a sensitive time, while refusing to cover the findings of Israel's Civil Commission on Hamas's systematic sexual violence during and after the October 7 massacre.

The ministry stated on X, formerly Twitter, that the commission had contacted the New York Times months earlier, only to be told the outlet had no interest in the story.

The New York Times featured the opinion piece prominently on its homepage on Monday, complete with a video, releasing it just one day before the commission's report became public.

Multiple international news organizations covered the commission's findings on Tuesday morning, highlighting the New York Times as a notable exception.

The ministry posted on X: Aware of the report and its scheduled release, the New York Times chose the night before to launch a shameful assault on Israel, downplaying Hamas's sexual crimes. This reveals the outlet's clear agenda.

'One of the most egregious blood libels in modern media,' says Foreign Ministry

In an earlier X post on Monday, the ministry labeled the op-ed one of the most egregious blood libels in modern media.

It accused columnist Nicholas Kristof of distorting reality with a barrage of unfounded claims, portraying victims as perpetrators.

Israel, whose citizens suffered unimaginable sexual atrocities by Hamas on October 7 and whose hostages endured further abuse, is depicted as the offender, the ministry argued.

This publication is deliberate, forming part of a coordinated anti-Israel effort to add the country to the UN Secretary-General's blacklist, according to the ministry.

Israel will counter these falsehoods with facts, and truth will ultimately triumph, it affirmed.

Israel's Ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, echoed the criticism, urging against falling for such blood libels.

Op-Ed author claims to report from West Bank

Datelined from the West Bank, the piece alleged a pattern of Israeli sexual violence against Palestinian men, women, and children by soldiers, settlers, Shin Bet interrogators, and especially prison guards.

Kristof conceded no proof exists that Israeli leaders directed rapes, yet asserted that the security system fosters a culture where sexual violence is standard practice.

The op-ed drew from talks with 14 individuals who claimed assaults by Israeli settlers or security personnel.

One detainee alleged prison officers inserted objects into his rectum.

A Gaza detainee described being restrained, stripped, blindfolded, and handcuffed as a dog was brought in to mount him.

Kristof charged the US with complicity, as American funds support Israel's security apparatus.

On X, upon publication, Kristof wrote: After reporting on rampant rape and sexual violence against Palestinian prisoners by Israeli authorities, the article is out. Victims were threatened with death or further rape if they spoke, yet they bravely did.

He detailed one man raped three times in a day, including after protesting; a woman stripped and abused at shift changes; another shown rape photos unless she cooperated with intelligence.

Even three detained children reported abuse. Regardless of Middle East views, we must oppose rape - horrific on October 7 against Israeli women, and equally so when used against Palestinians routinely, he stated, sharing a free link.

Critics question credibility of sources

Activists from Israel and Palestinian communities have challenged the reliability of Kristof's sources, citing bias and inaccuracies.

Gazan activist Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib posted on X that while prison abuse likely occurred, groups like Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor and Shaiel Ben Ephraim have questionable records on accuracy and ties.

They lack credibility, even if other sources were used. Anonymous Palestinian accounts, due to shame and retaliation fears, hinder verification but do not disprove claims, he noted.

Such reports must not fuel antisemitism or collective guilt; these are individual acts, not indictments of all Israelis or Jews, he warned.

Jerusalem's NGO Monitor exposed links between the heavily cited Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor and Hamas.

It shared photos of founder Ramy Abdu at a 2013 event with Hamas leader Osama Hamdan.

Israel identifies Abdu as a key Hamas operative in Europe, NGO Monitor reported.

Abdu once claimed Israel thirsts for Palestinian children's blood.

Abdu and former chair Mazen Awni Issa Kahel appeared with Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in 2011.

Euro-Med's Chief of Programmes Muhammad Shehada posted smiling with Haniyeh.

NGO Monitor faulted Save the Children, noting the op-ed's survey of 12-to-17-year-olds who, if true, may have been child soldiers trained by Hamas for attacks.

The op-ed praised the Committee to Protect Journalists, but NGO Monitor highlighted its pattern of listing terrorists as journalists, later removing some killed in Gaza.