United States President Donald Trump is set to withdraw the US from the United Nations Human Rights Council and extend a funding ban on the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), a move expected to escalate tensions between the US, the UN, and Palestinian authorities. The decision, first reported by Politico and NPR, is expected to be formalized through an executive order on Tuesday, coinciding with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the White House.
The development signals a renewed alignment between Trump and Netanyahu, both of whom have been staunch critics of the UN and its handling of Israel-related affairs. It also comes amid ongoing instability in Gaza, where UNRWA remains one of the few humanitarian agencies providing aid to Palestinians.
Trump’s withdrawal from the UN Human Rights Council is not unprecedented. In 2018, during his first term, the US left the council under the leadership of then-UN ambassador Nikki Haley, who cited the council’s “chronic bias” against Israel as a primary reason for the decision.
The UN Human Rights Council, composed of 47 elected member states serving four-year terms, is responsible for assessing and addressing human rights violations worldwide. One of its key roles is conducting periodic reviews of the human rights records of UN member states, including the US. The next scheduled review of the US is set for August, during which the council will evaluate Washington’s human rights track record.
In its previous review in 2020, the council recommended that the US take steps to combat systemic racism, reform policing practices, and close the Guantanamo Bay detention center, a long-standing point of contention in international human rights discussions.
Another core function of the council is the appointment of independent human rights experts, known as UN special rapporteurs, who investigate human rights issues across the globe. Some of these experts have been vocal critics of Israel’s actions in the occupied Palestinian territories, with special rapporteur Francesca Albanese being among those who have accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
Trump’s decision to exit the Human Rights Council follows a broader pattern of US disengagement from international organizations under his administration. Since returning to office for a second term on January 20, Trump has already withdrawn the US from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Paris Climate Agreement—two moves that mirror actions he took in his first term, only to be reversed by the Biden administration.
In addition to leaving the Human Rights Council, Trump is set to reinforce and extend a funding ban on UNRWA, the UN agency responsible for providing humanitarian aid, healthcare, and education to millions of Palestinian refugees.
UNRWA has long been a target of Israeli criticism, with Netanyahu accusing the agency of perpetuating the Palestinian refugee crisis rather than resolving it. The agency has also been at the center of political controversy, particularly regarding its operations in Gaza and the West Bank.
According to a recent UNRWA situation report, Israeli forces have killed 272 UNRWA staff members during military operations in Gaza over the past 15 months. The report also detailed multiple attacks on UNRWA buildings, including schools and medical facilities where thousands of displaced Palestinians had sought shelter.
The Israeli government has increasingly taken steps to curtail UNRWA’s presence. In October 2024, the Israeli Knesset passed two bills banning UNRWA operations within Israel’s borders, including in occupied East Jerusalem. These laws officially took effect last week, further restricting the agency’s ability to provide aid in key Palestinian territories.
UNRWA was established by the UN General Assembly in 1949 to provide essential services to Palestinian refugees displaced by the Arab-Israeli conflict. The agency currently supports millions of Palestinians across Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan.
For years, the US was UNRWA’s largest donor, contributing between $300 million and $400 million annually. However, the agency’s funding became a contentious issue under Trump’s first administration. In 2018, Trump cut off all US funding to UNRWA, arguing that the agency was ineffective and that Palestinian refugees should be absorbed by their host countries rather than continue receiving UN aid.
President Joe Biden partially restored US funding to UNRWA in 2021, but in January 2024, the Biden administration once again paused financial support following Israeli allegations that a dozen UNRWA staff members had participated in Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel. While an independent UN investigation found no supporting evidence from Israeli authorities, a later internal UN probe concluded that nine UNRWA employees might have been involved in the attack, leading to their dismissal.
Despite the controversy, UNRWA remains a crucial player in Gaza’s humanitarian efforts, especially as the region grapples with the aftermath of Israel’s military campaign and the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Trump’s latest moves against UN agencies align closely with Netanyahu’s hardline stance on Palestinian issues. The Israeli leader’s visit to Washington is expected to focus on the future of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, as well as broader regional security concerns.
Since the ceasefire took effect, both Israeli and Palestinian factions have expressed skepticism about its long-term viability. Speaking to reporters after Netanyahu’s arrival in Washington, Trump acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the ceasefire, stating that there were “no guarantees” it would hold.
While the official agenda of the Trump-Netanyahu meeting has not been disclosed, analysts speculate that the leaders will also discuss strategies to counter Iran’s growing influence in the region, as well as the potential for further normalization deals between Israel and Arab states.
Trump’s decision to cut ties with the UN Human Rights Council and extend the UNRWA funding ban is likely to provoke strong reactions from the international community. Critics argue that these moves undermine US credibility on human rights issues and weaken America’s ability to influence global diplomacy.
On the other hand, Trump’s supporters view the withdrawal as a necessary step to protect US interests and push back against what they see as UN bias against Israel. They also argue that UNRWA’s role should be reconsidered, given ongoing allegations of misconduct and inefficiency.
As Trump moves forward with his foreign policy agenda, the global response to these decisions will be a key factor in shaping US relations with both allies and adversaries in the coming months.
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