Israel is preparing to file a lawsuit against The New York Times after the newspaper published an investigative report alleging that Israeli soldiers and prison guards raped Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons. The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced the legal move on Thursday, rejecting the allegations as false.

The report, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Nicholas Kristof, included testimonies from 14 Palestinian men and women who described severe sexual abuse, including being attacked by dogs and subjected to violent assaults. A spokesperson for The New York Times said the article began with a call for unity in condemning rape regardless of political views on the Middle East conflict.

Israeli politicians have denied the accusations, claiming that The New York Times is spreading defamation. The controversy has drawn attention to the ongoing tensions between Israel and international media over coverage of alleged human rights abuses.